Dozens dead after Yagi hammers Vietnam, causing floods, landslides
1. Bridge collapses due to Super Typhoon in Phu Tho, leading to further casualties
**HANOI**: Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, has left 59 people dead and caused extensive damage in northern Vietnam, according to preliminary government estimates released on Monday.
The typhoon made landfall on Vietnam's northeastern coast on Saturday, a region with significant manufacturing operations from both domestic and foreign companies. Though it weakened to a tropical depression by Sunday, the meteorological agency warned of continued risks of floods and landslides.
Yagi's impact was severe, cutting power to millions of households and businesses, flooding highways, disrupting telecommunications, and felling thousands of trees. A medium-sized bridge was also downed, halting economic activity in several industrial hubs.
In Haiphong, a coastal city of two million people, industrial parks and factories reported heavy damage. Managers and workers scrambled to salvage equipment as many facilities were left without power. Roofs of factories were blown away, and further rainfall was expected.
Bruno Jaspaert, head of DEEP C industrial zones, which host over 150 investors in Haiphong and nearby Quang Ninh, said that everyone was "scrambling to make sites safe and stocks dry."
At LG Electronics' factory in Haiphong, the walls collapsed, though no employee casualties were reported. A warehouse containing refrigerators and washing machines was flooded, causing significant damage.
Hong Sun, chairman of the South Korean business association in Vietnam, described the typhoon's impact on Korean factories in coastal areas as "lots of damage."
In the province of Phu Tho, a key bridge collapsed on Monday, though authorities reported no casualties yet. Initial investigations revealed that eight vehicles were on the bridge when it gave way.
The weather agency forecast more heavy rains and strong winds for late Monday, especially in Hanoi, home to 8.5 million people.
Vietnam's state-run power provider EVN reported that over 5.7 million customers lost power over the weekend due to dozens of broken power lines, but by Monday, electricity had been restored to nearly 75% of affected households and businesses.
