HANOI/TAIYUAN, Sept 12 (Askume) – The death toll from Typhoon Yagi and its triggered landslides and floods in Vietnam rose to 226 on Thursday, government disaster agencies said, as flood pressure eased in the capital Hanoi.
The Southeast Asian country is grappling with the impact of Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, which struck Vietnam’s northeastern coast on Saturday.
The agency said in its report that more than 100 people are missing and about 800 people are injured.
Many areas of the capital Hanoi were flooded on Thursday, but the weather agency said in the evening that flood pressure had eased, while many areas in northern Vietnam remained hit by floods and landslides.
Earlier, the city evacuated thousands of people living near the rising Red River as water levels reached their highest level in 20 years.
“All night long, the city was filled with sadness and anxiety,” said Skye McConnachie, co-chief executive of the charity Blue Dragon Children’s Fund. “Many people who had nothing have lost everything.”
The government weather forecasting agency said late Thursday that river levels in Hanoi had peaked and were falling.
Many areas north of Hanoi are still hit by landslides and severe flooding, according to state media reports.
“I never thought my house would flood so badly,” said Huong Wenti outside his home in Thai Nguyen province.
“My clothes and furniture were submerged in water, and many things were floating. Luckily, I closed the door and nothing was swept away.”
55 people missing after flood
Thai Nguyen province is home to Samsung Electronics Co.’s (005930.KS) Vietnam’s biggest smartphone manufacturing plant. Floodwaters have also receded in parts of the province, with clean-up efforts underway and residents repairing submerged televisions and motorcycles.
“This was the only motorcycle I had at work, but it was submerged in water, so I had to bring it here to get it repaired,” said resident Thai Nguyen, 36, who owns a motorcycle repair shop. “I can’t go to work until it’s fixed.”
Repairman Nguyen Van Truong said his shop has repaired 60 motorcycles in the past two days and another 20 are awaiting repairs.
“We are overwhelmed, really overwhelmed,” Truong said. “I’m tired of working hard, but people need transportation to get things back to normal.”
Authorities in Lao Cai province are searching for 55 people missing after floods hit Nou village on Tuesday, Vietnam News Agency reports.
The flood killed 46 people and injured 17 others in the village, the agency said. 300 soldiers and 359 local officials were joining the search and rescue operation, the agency said.
Landslides and floods have inundated more than 200,000 hectares of rice fields and cash crop farms in northern Vietnam, the disaster management agency said.
The storm also disrupted power supplies and blew off the roofs of several factories in Hai Phong and Quảng Ninh provinces, halting production.
Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United States and several other countries have committed to providing aid to Vietnam.
