HANOI – Typhoon Yagi, one of the most formidable storms to strike Vietnam in the past ten years, made landfall on Saturday, unleashing winds that surpassed 150 km/h and leaving a path of devastation in its wake. The northern regions of the country, which bore the brunt of the hurricane’s force in the afternoon, saw the preemptive closure of four major airports, including Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. In a decisive response to the escalating crisis, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh mandated the evacuation of residents from high-risk zones, emphasizing areas historically susceptible to the ravages of flooding and landslides.

The coastal provinces of Haiphong and Quang Ninh emerged as the epicenters of the typhoon’s wrath. In Haiphong, the skies were littered with debris as metal sheets and commercial signage became airborne projectiles amidst the tempest’s fury. The human toll of the typhoon has begun to surface, with reports of casualties including a woman in Hanoi who tragically succumbed to injuries inflicted by a falling tree, exacerbated by the relentless rain and gales. A similar fate befell a man in Hai Duong province, further underscoring the lethal potential of such natural disasters. The current reported death toll lies at a total of four.

Vietnamese meteorological authorities have classified Typhoon Yagi as an extraordinary meteorological event, citing its intensity as unparalleled in recent history for the region. The nation now faces the arduous task of recovery and rebuilding, a testament to the resilience of the Vietnamese people in the face of nature’s unpredictable might.

International aid organizations have been mobilized, and global support is flowing into the country as it grapples with the aftermath of the storm. (zai)