Tropical storm Yagi claims numerous lives in Vietnam, China, and the Philippines
On Sunday, Vietnam's weather service lowered the alert level, but they warned about the ongoing chances of flooding and landslides as the monstrous storm, the most potent to hit Vietnam in years, moved westward.
The day prior, in Hanoi, the capital, Yagi brought down power lines and communication networks, leading to massive floods, thousands of fallen trees, and property damage.
The Vietnamese government confirmed that at least three people had perished in Hanoi, a city of over 8.5 million, with these figures being preliminary. As of reports, fourteen individuals have lost their lives in Vietnam, including four from a landslide in the Hoa Binh province, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Hanoi.
A 53-year-old motorcyclist met his demise when a tree crashed onto him in the Hai Duong province, as per state media. At least one body was discovered near Halong City's coastline, where a dozen people were reported missing; search and rescue operations were planned for Sunday, once conditions permitted.
Yagi also claimed the lives of four individuals on Hainan Island, China's southernmost province, according to current reports. The disaster management office in the Philippines, Yagi's initial target after its formation last week, increased the death toll there on Sunday to 20 from 16, with 22 individuals still unaccounted for.
Flood warning
Upon landing in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, Yagi generated waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) tall in coastal provinces, resulting in prolonged power and telecommunications outages, making damage assessment challenging for the government.
The weather service warned of continued "risk of flash floods near small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes in numerous locations in the northern mountainous areas and the coastal province of Thanh Hoa."
By Sunday morning, tranquility returned to Hanoi, allowing authorities to swiftly clean up the city from uprooted trees and debris scattered across both the urban core and neighboring areas.
As Hoang Ngoc Nhien, a 57-year-old Hanoi resident, put it, "The storm has wrecked havoc in the city. Trees crumbled onto people's houses, automobiles, and individuals outside."
Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam's busiest northern airport, resumed operations on Sunday following its Saturday morning closure.
In Hainan, preliminary assessments suggested substantial financial losses and widespread power outages, according to emergency response officials cited by Hainan Daily, a state-run publication.
Despite the lowered alert level in Vietnam, the World Meteorological Organization continues to monitor the storm's path, as it poses a significant threat to other Asian countries. The devastating effects of Yagi are not only limited to Vietnam; it has also caused significant damage in China's Hainan province.
