HANOI: Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday, following its devastating impact across northern Vietnam, China’s Hainan Island, and the Philippines. The storm, which has claimed dozens of lives according to preliminary reports, brought severe flooding, landslides, and widespread damage. Vietnam’s meteorological agency issued the downgrade but warned of ongoing risks, including flooding and landslides, as Yagi continues to move westward.
The typhoon, the strongest to affect Vietnam in decades, disrupted power supplies and telecommunications in Hanoi, causing extensive flooding, felling thousands of trees, and damaging homes. The Vietnamese government reported at least three deaths in Hanoi, a city with a population of 8.5 million, with the total death toll in Vietnam reaching at least fourteen. This includes four fatalities from a landslide in Hoa Binh province, located approximately 100 km (62 miles) south of Hanoi. A 53-year-old motorcyclist in Hai Duong province was also killed when a tree fell on him. Additionally, rescue operations are underway for a dozen people missing at sea near the coastal city of Halong, where at least one body has been recovered.
In China, the storm has claimed the lives of four individuals on the southern island of Hainan, according to local authorities. The Philippines, where Yagi first made landfall after forming last week, has seen its death toll rise to 20 from 16, with 22 people still missing. The storm’s impact has led to significant economic losses and power outages on Hainan, as reported by emergency response authorities. The storm triggered waves up to 4 meters (13 feet) high in coastal provinces of Vietnam, resulting in power and telecommunication outages that have hampered damage assessments.
The meteorological agency has warned of continued risks of flash floods near small rivers and streams, as well as landslides in northern mountainous areas and the coastal province of Thanh Hoa. Relative calm returned to Hanoi on Sunday morning, with authorities working to clear streets of toppled trees and debris. The city’s Noi Bai international airport, which had been closed on Saturday morning, reopened later in the day. As the cleanup and recovery efforts continue, the full extent of Yagi’s impact is still being assessed, with significant economic and infrastructural damage reported across the affected regions.
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