China Dozens dead and missing after typhoon in Vietnam

Heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides and even a bridge collapse: the extent of the destruction following super typhoon "Yagi" is now becoming clearer in Vietnam.

The death toll from the most violent tropical storm in decades has risen to at least 65 in the Southeast Asian country. In addition, 39 people are missing, as local authorities announced on Tuesday.

According to the authorities, the missing include eight people who have been searched for since the collapse of a busy bridge north of the capital Hanoi. It led over the Red River, which had turned into a raging torrent in the wake of the storm. According to local media reports, several trucks, cars and motorcycles were swept into the depths on Monday morning.

What had happened?

Super typhoon "Yagi" had ravaged Vietnam for 15 hours at the weekend, particularly in the north, after previously sweeping across parts of China. The Chinese weather authority classified the storm as the strongest autumn typhoon to hit mainland China since 1949. At least four people lost their lives in the People's Republic and dozens were injured. In Vietnam, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting spoke of the strongest storm in 30 years.

The destruction is enormous

According to disaster control, 46,000 houses in the north of the country were destroyed, the roofs of numerous stores, residential buildings and schools were blown away and hundreds of thousands of trees were uprooted in several provinces. In addition, around 700,000 farm animals died, mainly poultry and livestock. In addition, 85 ships sank in the churning sea. Almost 150,000 hectares of rice fields were flooded and almost 1,600 fishing grounds were destroyed. Several airports had temporarily suspended operations over the weekend.

Salvage and relief operations are continuing. The Red River, which flows through Hanoi, overflowed its banks in several places, which is why roads had to be closed and around 500 families had to leave their homes on Tuesday. Heavy rain continued to fall in many areas of northern Vietnam, prompting authorities to warn of landslides and flash floods.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters. Increasing global warming increases the likelihood of strong storms.

SDA