Following Typhoon Yagi’s devastation in the north of Vietnam, the subsequent floodwaters from the engorged Red River have led to the evacuation of many Hanoi residents living in its vicinity. The typhoon, identified as the most destructive in Asia this year, brought with it forceful winds and a deluge of rain, causing a bridge to crumble while devastating regions along the Red River, the largest in the area.
Hanoi resident Tran Le Quyen, who has resided in the region for three decades, described the flood as the severest she has witnessed, adding that she was forced to transfer her furniture to higher spots from her water-logged house. Awoken by the increasing floodwaters covering the entire street, she remarked that her neighbours could not rest throughout the night.
According to government estimates, the typhoon, along with ensuing landslides and floods, have claimed the lives of 152 individuals and another 140 have been reported missing. Educational institutions in Hanoi have requested students to avoid venturing out for the rest of the week and multiple residents of vulnerable regions have been asked to evacuate.
Nguyen Van Hung, a 56 year-old inhabitant of a neighbourhood bordering the Red River remarked, “My home is now part of the river.” At the heart of the city, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation was compelled to evacuate its office on Tuesday owing to warnings of flood perils.
Carlota Torres Lliro, a representative for the foundation, described the frantic relocation efforts which included moving motorbikes and shifting possessions. She expressed her worry for numerous families and children inhabiting temporary homes and slums beside the river.
Additionally, Typhoon Yagi wreaked havoc on numerous factories and flooded storage facilities in the export-centric industrial areas situated to the east of Hanoi. This led to closures with some expected to be operational only after a few weeks, said executives.
As Vietnam serves as a significant operational ground for multinationals shipping mostly to developed nations, these disturbances pose a threat to global supply chains, particularly to the US and Europe. Further north from the capital, lethal landslides triggered by torrential floods led to several casualties.
Simultaneously, in Thailand, severe rains in two northern provinces have led to at least two deaths and stranded hundreds. Rising river levels, overwhelmed settlements and resultant landslides have been reported by the authorities on Wednesday – per a Reuters release. (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.