Thousands of residents were evacuated on Wednesday from flood-swollen Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, days after Typhoon Yachi battered northern Vietnam, causing widespread damage.
Floods and landslides caused by the powerful typhoon that made landfall on Saturday have so far killed at least 143 people and left 69 people missing.
Floodwaters cascading down a mountainside in Lao Cai province on Tuesday buried 35 families in Lan Ngu village under mud and rubble, state broadcaster VTV said. Only about 12 people have been found alive so far. Rescuers have retrieved 16 bodies and are still searching for about 40 more.
Typhoon Yaghi, the strongest typhoon to hit Asia this year, brought heavy rain and strong winds to northern Vietnam, including Hanoi.
The storm caused a bridge collapse on Monday and severe flooding across the Red River Delta, the region’s largest river system.
“These are the worst floods in 30 years,” said Tran Le Quyen, 42, a Hanoi resident.
“Yesterday morning it was dry and now the whole street is flooded. I couldn’t sleep last night.”
Four days later, rain continued to fall in Hanoi and floodwaters continued to rise, forcing thousands of residents living in low-lying areas to evacuate.
Some schools in Hanoi have been closed for the rest of the week due to safety concerns, and flooding has severely affected communities, especially those living near the Red River.
“My house is now part of the river,” said Nguyen Van Hung, 56, who lives near the riverbank.
Flooding and landslides in other states have also added to the disaster’s toll: Nine people were killed when Yagi made landfall on Saturday, but landslides, floods and related accidents have killed more than 100 people since then.
Factories and warehouses in Vietnam’s northern industrial hub have also been damaged, disrupting operations and threatening to have a ripple effect up global supply chains as many multinational companies rely on these facilities.
Charities mobilized to help affected residents.
“People were frantic,” said Carlota Torres Lillo, a spokeswoman for the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, which evacuated its offices after receiving the flood warning.
She expressed concern for “dozens of children and families living in slums and temporary housing along the river.”
Before hitting Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi battered southwestern China and the Philippines, killing at least 24 people and flooding streets for several days.
Yagi was the most powerful storm this year, reaching Category 5 hurricane strength before making landfall in China.
Further reporting by the agency.
