Asia’s strongest storm of 2024 leaves 100 dead

Authorities and residents in northern Vietnam are dealing with the aftermath of Asia’s most powerful storm of the year, Typhoon Yagi, which has killed at least 60 people and injured some 300 more in the country, after claiming dozens of lives in China and the Philippines.

The storm, which hit Vietnam on Saturday, caused widespread destruction, including the collapse of the Phong Chau bridge over the Red River in Phu Tho province. This left three dead and 13 missing as cars and scooters were sent crashing into the water.

Dozens were also missing feared dead after a bus was swept away by a flood and a landslide in mountainous Cao Bang province, while the high winds knocked down power for much of the region, including across the Quang Ninh and Haiphong areas.

At least 3,300 homes have been damaged and over 120,000 hectares of crops destroyed. Some 1.5 million people have been left without power as authorities evacuate 50,000 residents from high-risk areas. The storm also caused 30 vessels to sink in the coastal region of Quang Ninh province along Ha Long Bay. 

Schools in 12 northern provinces have been temporarily closed, and recovery efforts are being ramped up as authorities continue to assess the full scope of the damage. Vietnam is the third country to experience Yagi typhoon after China and the Philippines, where 24 people were killed by the storm.

Although Vietnam’s meteorological department downgraded the storm on Sunday, it said the risk of flooding and landslides remained, and residents were asked to remain indoors.

Typhoons have shifted northwards in East Asia, and climate change is increasing both their number and their intensity, according to scientists, who argue that adaptation to reduce the risks and building resilience to extreme weather events is key.

For an in-depth look at why community readiness and human connection need to be at the centre of that disaster preparedness, read: