The powerful Typhoon Yagi has left a trail of destruction in Vietnam, with the storm’s impact extending beyond heavy rains and flooding. In a tragic incident on Monday, September 9, the Phong Chau Bridge in Phu Tho province, northern Vietnam, collapsed under the force of the typhoon’s floodwaters. The 375-meter-long bridge gave way, sending at least 10 vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, plummeting into the Red River.
Authorities are reporting that 13 people are currently missing following the bridge collapse. While Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc noted that it’s unclear if there have been any casualties, the situation remains a critical concern. Rescue operations are ongoing, with efforts focused on both searching for the missing and restoring access to the affected area.
The bridge collapse is just one facet of the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall on Saturday as the strongest storm to hit Vietnam in years. The storm has resulted in at least 64 deaths across northern provinces, primarily due to severe flooding and landslides. In Cao Bang province, a passenger bus carrying 20 people was swept away by a landslide, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
Rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads and ongoing heavy rains. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has announced emergency aid and directed the military to prioritize rescue and recovery operations. The storm’s impact has also been felt in northern Vietnam’s industrial zones, where widespread power outages and damage to factories have been reported. In Haiphong, significant damage has been observed, including the destruction of factory roofs and flooding at production plants, particularly impacting LG Electronics facilities. Fortunately, no employee casualties have been reported at these sites.
The Vietnam Meteorological Agency has issued warnings of continued flooding and landslides, with northern regions experiencing rainfall ranging from 208 to 433 mm in the past 48 hours. The storm’s impact has extended to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 70 km (43 miles) up the coast from Haiphong. According to the disaster management authority, powerful winds and waves from the typhoon have caused 30 vessels to sink.
Typhoon Yagi has also inflicted damage on nearly 3,300 homes and affected over 120,000 hectares (296,500 acres) of crops in northern Vietnam, leaving behind a widespread sense of devastation and a pressing need for recovery efforts across the region.
