Thousands evacuated as Red River floods Hanoi amid Typhoon Yagi’s aftermath
Hanoi experiences worst flooding in decades; power cuts and evacuations underway
Thousands of residents in Hanoi, Vietnam, have been forced to evacuate as floodwaters from the surging Red River reach their highest levels in two decades. By Wednesday, parts of the city were submerged under a meter of water, forcing people to navigate their neighborhoods by boat. The rising waters have led to power cuts in some districts, and 10 of the city’s 30 administrative regions are now on “flood alert,” according to state media reports.
Typhoon Yagi’s aftermath devastates northern Vietnam
Vietnam is reeling from the devastating effects of Typhoon Yagi, which struck the northern region and has killed at least 179 people. Most of the casualties have been attributed to floods and landslides, which continue to pose a major threat across northern Vietnam.
“This is the worst flood I have seen,” said Hanoi resident Tran Le Quyen in an interview with Reuters. “It was dry yesterday morning. Now the entire street is flooded. We couldn’t sleep last night.”
Typhoon Yagi, initially classified as a super typhoon—equivalent to a category 5 hurricane—was later downgraded to a tropical depression. Despite this, the storm has continued to destroy since it made landfall on Saturday. Yagi is now considered Asia’s most powerful typhoon of the year.
Entire village swept away; survivors cling to hope
In a tragic incident, the village of Lang Nu in northern Lao Cai province was swept away by flash floods on Tuesday. At least 30 people have been confirmed dead, and hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to assist in the search for missing residents. Survivors have shared harrowing stories of escape.
“I looked out of the window and saw a huge amount of land coming towards me,” said Hoang Thi Bay, one of 63 survivors in the remote mountain community. “I ran out to our kitchen, and clung tightly to a concrete pole. Our wooden stilt house was destroyed.”
Hydropower plant concerns and infrastructure damage
Authorities are closely monitoring a hydropower plant in northwestern Yen Bai province, as concerns grow over the stability of a dam there. The surrounding reservoir is overwhelmed by water, raising fears of a potential collapse. Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep sought to reassure the public, stating that the hydropower plant remains “safe,” but he urged residents to remain under shelter as water levels are not expected to recede for at least two days.
The typhoon has also wreaked havoc on northern Vietnam’s infrastructure, causing widespread damage. On Monday, a busy bridge collapsed, sending ten cars and two scooters plunging into the Red River. The storm has also uprooted trees, destroyed factory roofs, and caused extensive damage to buildings.
Wider impact of Typhoon Yagi across Asia
Before hitting Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi left 24 people dead across southern China and the Philippines. The storm’s powerful winds and intense rainfall have left a trail of destruction in its wake across Asia.
Scientists warn that as global temperatures rise, typhoons like Yagi may bring even stronger winds and heavier rainfall, although the precise impact of climate change on individual storms remains complex.