Vietnam is grappling with severe flooding following Typhoon Yagi, which struck the country on Monday. Business leaders have described the storm as a “disaster” for Vietnam’s crucial manufacturing sector.
Typhoon Yagi, the strongest to hit northern Vietnam in 30 years, made landfall on Saturday with winds exceeding 149 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour). The storm caused extensive damage, including downed bridges, roofs torn off buildings, and damaged factories. Power outages and flooding severely disrupted operations in northern Vietnam, a key production hub for global brands like Samsung and Foxconn.
State media reported that the typhoon has claimed 21 lives in Vietnam, with authorities confirming that 247 people have been injured. Yagi’s impact was also felt in southern China and the Philippines, where at least 24 additional fatalities were reported.
On Monday, about 1.5 million people in Vietnam were still without electricity. A major bridge over the Red River in northern Phu Tho province collapsed, with images showing that half of the 375-meter Phong Chau bridge was destroyed. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc reported that 13 people were missing, including 10 cars and trucks and two motorbikes that were on the bridge when it collapsed.
In Yen Bai province, 2,400 households were evacuated to higher ground as floodwaters rose to dangerous levels, reaching up to one meter (three feet) in parts of Yen Bai City.
Disaster authorities have identified 130 high-risk locations across 17 cities and provinces in northern Vietnam, warning of significant risks from flooding and landslides.
