Vietnam's Worst Typhoon Triggers Devastating Floods and Landslides

Vietnam has been hit by Asia's worst storm of the year, leading to catastrophic floods and landslides that have killed at least 127 people and left 54 missing. The disaster has devastated numerous northern provinces, including Hanoi, causing massive evacuations and infrastructural damage, such as the collapse of a 30-year-old bridge.

The death toll in Vietnam from Asia's worst storm this year reached 127 on Tuesday. Torrents of rain triggered floods and landslides, burying homes, sweeping away a bridge, and threatening the capital Hanoi. Residents in several northern provinces, including Hanoi's suburbs, waded through knee-high floods as brown water cascaded down pedestrian steps.

Landslides and floods caused by the typhoon have killed at least 127 people in northern Vietnam, and 54 others are still missing, as reported by the disaster management agency on Tuesday. Most victims were killed in landslides and flash floods, and 764 people are injured.

The typhoon made landfall on Saturday on Vietnam's northeastern coast, devastating both industrial and residential areas. Heavy rain caused floods and landslides, impacting areas like the Philippines and the southern Chinese island of Hainan before reaching Vietnam. Nguyen Thi Tham, a 60-year-old living near the Red River in Hanoi, had to leave everything behind as the water rose too quickly.

She was among evacuees taken by boat to safe shelters early on Tuesday. The exact number of evacuations in Hanoi remains unclear. Several rivers in northern Vietnam have risen to alarming levels, flooding villages and residential areas, as reported by the disaster agency and state media.

A 30-year-old bridge over the Red River collapsed on Monday in Phu Tho province, leaving eight people missing. Authorities subsequently restricted traffic on other bridges, including the large Chuong Duong Bridge in Hanoi. Water levels on the Red River are rising rapidly, the government warned on its Facebook page.

Officials used loudspeakers to warn residents of Long Bien district near the river to prepare for possible evacuations. Severe flooding also impacted industrial hubs like Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen. It's unclear if major companies situated there, like Samsung Electronics and Foxconn, were affected.

Evacuations were also underway in Bac Giang province, where the typhoon and floods have inflicted damages estimated at 300 billion dong ($12.1 million). Over 4,600 soldiers have been deployed to aid evacuation efforts and support flood victims.

Vietnam's foreign ministry has asked China to notify it ahead of any dam water release upstream. Lao Cai province has reported the highest casualties with 19 dead and 36 missing, mostly due to landslides. The government has yet to provide an official damage assessment, but residents in Haiphong and Quang Ninh have reported total losses. Floods have inundated over 162,828 hectares of land and damaged almost 50,000 houses in northern Vietnam, according to the disaster management agency.

($1 = 24,665 dong)

(With inputs from agencies.)