Asia

More than 127 dead in Vietnam super typhoon

At least 127 people have now died, and 54 others are missing in northern Vietnam, according to officials, as a super typhoon which hit on Saturday continues to bring heavy rainfall, landslides and flooding.

Thousands of people were seen stranded on rooftops in some northern provinces, while others posted desperate pleas for help on social media on Tuesday.

Typhoon Yagi – Vietnam’s most powerful storm in 30 years – has wreaked havoc across the north of the country, leaving 1.5 million people without power.

On Monday, dashcam footage showed the moment the Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province gave way, plunging several vehicles into the water below.

EPA A woman stands next to a fallen tree after typhoon Yagi's landfall in Hanoi
EPA Yagi brought winds of nearly 150km/h (92 mph) to northern Vietnam

Although it has now weakened into a tropical depression, authorities have warned Yagi will create more disruption as it moves westwards.

Phan Thi Tuyet, 50, who lives close to the river, told the AFP news agency that she had never experienced such high water.

“I have lost everything, all gone,” she said, clutching her two dogs.

“I had to come to higher ground to save our lives. We could not bring any of the furniture with us. Everything is underwater now.”

The storm – which brought winds of nearly 150km/h (92mph) – has damaged bridges, torn roofs off buildings, damaged factories and triggered widespread flooding and landslides, leaving 64 people still missing.

Authorities have now issued flood and landslide warnings for 401 communes across 18 northern provinces.

One-storey homes in parts of Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai provinces were almost completely submerged in the early hours of Tuesday, with residents waiting on the roofs for help.

As well as the dead and missing, flooding and landslides have also injured at least 752 people, officials at the ministry of agriculture said on Tuesday.

Before hitting Vietnam, Yagi left 24 people dead across southern China and the Philippines.

Meteorologists say that as the world warms, typhoons can bring higher wind speeds and more intense rainfall, although the influence of climate change on individual storms is complicated.

Getty Images Aerial picture showing flooded streets and buildings in Thai Nguyen province
Getty Images Parts Thai Nguyen province, just north of Hanoi, have been almost entirely submerged

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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