Sep 12 (V7N): Millions of people across Southeast Asia are grappling with widespread flooding, power outages, and destroyed infrastructure following the passage of Typhoon Yagi, with the death toll now surpassing 200.
Vietnam has been hit hardest, reporting 197 deaths, while nine fatalities have been confirmed in northern Thailand, where one district is experiencing its worst flooding in 80 years.
Yagi struck Vietnam over the weekend, unleashing torrential rains that have inundated northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. The typhoon triggered landslides and severe river flooding.
In Vietnam, a farmer named Tu shared his distress, stating that his 1,800-square-meter peach blossom farm had been submerged, destroying all 400 trees. “I think I will lose up to $40,000 this season,” Tu said, as he waits for the floodwaters to recede.
According to UNICEF, the typhoon has damaged over 140,000 homes across 26 provinces in Vietnam. The agency has been providing water to homes, health centers, and schools in the worst-affected areas and plans to send medical and sanitation supplies soon.
The floods have also devastated over 250,000 hectares of crops and livestock, with Vietnam’s agriculture ministry reporting significant losses, especially around Hanoi, where river levels are starting to drop after hitting a 20-year high.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated, while others are dealing with power outages. In a district near Hanoi, over 15,000 people have been affected by the floods.
Landslides have also caused further devastation. In Lao Cai province, seven people were killed, and 11 remain missing after a landslide, with communication only recently restored. Another landslide in the same region wiped out a village of 37 houses, killing at least 42 people, with 53 still missing.
In Cao Bang province, 15 bodies were recovered after a landslide pushed a bus and several vehicles into a stream.
The Mekong River Commission has issued a flood warning for the Laotian city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as the Mekong River is expected to reach flood levels.
Thailand has reported nine deaths, with six victims of landslides in Chiang Mai province. Flights to Chiang Rai airport have been suspended, and Mae Sai district is facing its worst floods in 80 years. Relief efforts, including military support and supplies, have been mobilized by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Myanmar is also facing severe flooding, especially around its capital Naypyidaw and the town of Taungoo, where rising river levels pose a significant threat. Train services between Yangon and Mandalay have been halted due to flooding.
The annual monsoon rains in Southeast Asia are being exacerbated by climate change, leading to more frequent and intense storms. A recent study revealed that typhoons are forming closer to the coast, intensifying faster, and lingering longer over land, increasing the potential for devastation.
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