Super Typhoon Yagi has left a trail of destruction across Southeast Asia, with the death toll rising to at least 22 people across Vietnam, China, and the Philippines. The storm made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday, September 7, 2024, with wind speeds reaching up to 149 mph (240 km/h), causing widespread damage and prompting mass evacuations.In Vietnam, at least four people have been killed and 78 injured, with dozens more missing at sea. The coastal city of Haiphong was among the hardest hit, experiencing widespread power outages and waves up to three meters high. Vietnamese authorities evacuated over 50,000 people from coastal areas and deployed 450,000 military personnel for emergency response. Four airports, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International, suspended operations, leading to the cancellation of over 300 flights.Before reaching Vietnam, Yagi had already caused significant damage in southern China, particularly in Hainan province, where at least three people were killed and 95 injured. The storm left over 1.5 million households without electricity in the region. In the Philippines, where the typhoon first struck, at least 16 people were killed, with 26 missing and 18 injured.Climate scientists continue to warn that the increasing intensity of storms like Yagi is linked to climate change and warming oceans. Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, stated, ‘Warmer ocean waters provide more energy to fuel the storms, leading to increased wind speeds and heavier rainfall’.As Yagi moves inland, it is expected to weaken, but authorities remain on high alert for potential flooding and landslides. The full extent of the damage and the total number of casualties are still being assessed as rescue and relief efforts continue across the affected regions.
Key points
- Super Typhoon Yagi has caused at least 22 deaths across Vietnam, China, and the Philippines.
- The storm made landfall in northern Vietnam with wind speeds up to 149 mph, causing widespread damage and evacuations.
- Climate scientists link the increasing intensity of such storms to climate change and warming oceans.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported death tolls and injury numbers across different sources, likely due to ongoing assessments and updates.
