The devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi on Southeast Asia continues to escalate, with the death toll now surpassing 200 across the region. Vietnam remains the hardest-hit country, reporting 199 fatalities as of September 12, 2024, a stark increase from the previously reported 197. The disaster has left 128 people missing and over 800 injured in Vietnam alone.Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, is grappling with what officials describe as the worst flooding in two decades. Many areas remain submerged, with residents forced to navigate knee-deep waters. The flooding has severely disrupted daily life and commerce. Mai Anh, a bakery owner in Hanoi, lamented, ‘I can’t do business with the flood like this. The goods in my shop are all destroyed’.The typhoon’s impact extends far beyond urban areas. Over 250,000 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed, and approximately 1.5 million livestock, mainly poultry and cattle, have perished. A farmer in Vietnam, facing significant losses, told reporters, ‘It will be so hard for me to recover from this loss – I think I will lose up to $40,000 this season’.The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that over 140,000 homes have been damaged across 26 Vietnamese provinces. Infrastructure has also been severely affected, with reports of collapsed bridges and roads. In one tragic incident, a bridge over the Red River in Phu Tho province collapsed on Monday, causing multiple vehicles to plunge into the water.The disaster has spread beyond Vietnam’s borders. In northern Thailand, authorities confirm 9 deaths, with dozens of flights canceled and the Chiang Rai airport suspending all operations. The Thai government has mobilized military resources for rescue and relief efforts, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra overseeing the response.Climate experts continue to warn that storms like Typhoon Yagi are likely to become more intense due to climate change. Warmer ocean waters provide more energy to fuel these storms, resulting in stronger winds and heavier rainfall.As rescue and relief efforts continue across the region, the full extent of Typhoon Yagi’s impact is still unfolding. With millions affected and critical infrastructure damaged, Southeast Asia faces a long and challenging road to recovery.
Key points
- The death toll from Typhoon Yagi has surpassed 200 in Southeast Asia, with 199 fatalities in Vietnam alone.
- Hanoi is experiencing its worst flooding in two decades, severely disrupting daily life and commerce.
- Over 250,000 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed, and approximately 1.
- Climate experts warn that storms like Typhoon Yagi are likely to become more intense due to climate change.
5 million livestock have perished.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported death toll for Vietnam, with some sources citing 197 deaths and others reporting 199.
