The death toll from Typhoon Yagi has climbed to 152 in Vietnam, according to official estimates, as one of the nation’s largest rivers, the Red River, swells to levels not seen in over 20 years, flooding parts of the capital, Hanoi. By midweek, water levels in some areas of the city reached a meter, turning streets into rivers and forcing residents to use boats to navigate their neighborhoods.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas, and state media reports that 10 out of Hanoi’s 30 administrative districts are currently on high “flood alert.” The typhoon has caused widespread devastation, with floods and landslides in northern Vietnam accounting for the majority of the fatalities, according to government statements.
“This is the worst flood I’ve ever witnessed,” shared Tran Le Quyen, a resident of Hanoi, in an interview with Reuters. “Just yesterday morning, it was dry. Now, the entire street is submerged, and we couldn’t sleep all night.” Initially classified as a super typhoon, equivalent to a category 5 hurricane, Yagi was later downgraded to a tropical depression. However, it has continued to unleash destruction across Vietnam since making landfall on Saturday, now being described as Asia’s most powerful typhoon of the year.
Nguyen Van Hung, a resident living near the Red River, told Reuters, “My house is now part of the river.” His neighborhood, like many others along the riverbanks, has been inundated with floodwaters. In northern Lao Cai province, an entire village was swept away in flash floods on Tuesday, with 25 confirmed dead. Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to search for missing persons.
Authorities are also closely monitoring a hydropower plant in Yen Bai province, where concerns have arisen over the reservoir’s swelling waters. While Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep has reassured the public that the dam remains “safe,” residents have been advised to remain sheltered, as it may take two days for water levels to recede.
In its wake, Yagi has left a trail of destruction across northern Vietnam over the past four days. On Monday, a key bridge collapsed, sending 10 cars and two motorbikes plunging into the Red River. In addition, the typhoon tore roofs off buildings, uprooted trees, and caused extensive damage to factories and infrastructure.
Before striking Vietnam, Yagi had already claimed 24 lives in southern China and the Philippines. Experts warn that as global temperatures rise, typhoons are expected to become more severe, with stronger winds and heavier rainfall, although determining the direct impact of climate change on individual storms remains complex.
