Typhoon Yagi - Sep 2024

On 7 September, Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit the South China Sea in 30 years, made landfall in northern Viet Nam. The storm caused widespread damage in multiple provinces, with Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces, where wind speeds reached 213 km/h, being the most affected. 58 fatalities and 40 missing persons reported, with 746 people injured due to landslides and flash floods. Over 52,000 individuals evacuated due to severe flooding and landslides, with relocations focused on coastal and high-risk areas, including 96 households in Binh Lieu District of Quảng Ninh province. Approximately 184,000 hectares of rice, secondary crops and fruit trees were damaged or flooded, 47,566 houses damaged or destroyed, and significant damage to power infrastructure, bridges, and educational facilities. The Government of Viet Nam, with support of local authorities, mobilized a large-scale response, deploying over 438,000 officers, soldiers, communal disaster response teams, and mass organization members, assisting in evacuations, and coordinating with national and international partners for immediate relief efforts. (OCHA, 9 Sep 2024)

In the Philippines, the death toll stands at 20 fatalities and 26 missing people, 22 injured and over 71,600 evacuated people, according to NDRRMC, as of 10 September. In China, the death toll stands at four fatalities and 95 injured people were reported, according to media, across the Hainan island.(ECHO, 10 Sep 2024)

Heavy rains from typhoon Yagi's remnants have impacted the Philippines, Viet Nam, Northern Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Millions are affected in all five countries. In Viet Nam, over 150 deaths and 9,500 houses have been damaged. Two million school children face disrupted learning. In Thailand, severe weather in Northern Thailand has caused significant flooding and landslides affecting about 14,328 households. Rescue teams are responding to the flood situation. In Laos, floods in Luang Namtha province are affecting 40,255 people. Heavy rainfall has also triggered floods in northern Myanmar especially in Tachileik at the border with Thailand. The Mekong river is expected to reach danger levels in Laos and Cambodia. Needs assessments are ongoing in Viet Nam and Laos. (ECHO, 12 Sep 2024)

Five days after Typhoon Yagi struck northern Viet Nam, the country is facing severe flooding and landslides as a result of heavy and prolonged rains. As of 12 September, at least 199 people are reported dead with 128 people missing. (OCHA, 12 Sep 2024) Approximately 3 million people have no access to safe drinking water and sanitation, causing risk of disease, and 550 health facilities and more than 800 schools have been damaged. (UNICEF, 12 Sep 2024)

Following Typhoon Yagi’s landfall on 7 September, heavy rains and flooding have severely impacted northern and central provinces in Lao PDR, with nearly 140,000 people affected. The worst-hit areas include Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane Capital, along with significant impacts in Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Xiengkhouang, and Xayaboury. A total of 32 districts, 486 villages, and 27,972 families (139,826 people, including 59,662 women) have been affected, with 443 families evacuated and three confirmed fatalities. Current reports show floods have damaged 3,167 hectares of paddy fields, 121 houses, 41 roads, and 7 health facilities, while actual numbers are likely to be far higher. (UNICEF, 17 Sep 2024)

Viet Nam: On 16 September, the VDDMA reported 291 fatalities, 38 people missing and 237,000 homes damaged as a result of the typhoon, rains and landslides. An additional 84,000 homes were flooded, and 1,530 schools and 570 health facilities were damaged. According to the Minister of Planning and Investment, initial damage assessments from the typhoon amounted to VNĐ40 trillion ($1.6 billion) in damages. Some three million people are affected, including 1.3 million people in 26 provinces who suffered from damaged and flooded homes. (OCHA, 18 Sep 2024)

Since 9 September, heavy rains caused by the monsoon season and remnants of Typhoon Yagi have led to severe flooding across Myanmar. Central Myanmar is currently the hardest hit. The flood impacted 59 townships in nine regions and states, including the state’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, Bago, Kayah, Kayin, Magway, Mandalay, Mon, and eastern and southern Shan. There has been significant damage to road networks, transportation, telecommunications, and electricity in affected areas. Most areas remain flooded, although some townships have started to see receding water levels. While data verification is challenging, an estimated 631,000 people might have been affected by flooding across the country. (OCHA, 18 Sep 2024)

Myanmar: As of 17 September, there has been 113 reported deaths. In Mandalay, more than 53,000 people were affected in Yamethin. The Sa Mone Dam breach flooded 12 villages, submerged 40,000 acres of farmland, and left 10,000 people in urgent need of aid. Flooding in Bago worsened in Taungoo Township, surpassing August flood levels and affecting 1,200 households. In total more than 87,000 people affected in six townships in Bago Region. In Eastern Shan, flash floods destroyed a key bridge, disrupting transportation and communication. Southern Shan faced widespread flooding, affecting 13 townships, with more than half the area inundated, including tourism infrastructure. In the Southeast, Mon, Kayin, and Kayah states experienced severe flooding, displacing people and damaging infrastructure, particularly in IDP camps and low-lying areas. In Nay Pyi Taw, four townships were heavily flooded, affecting around 60,000 people. (IFRC & Myanmar Red Cross Society, 17 Sep 2024)

As of 27 September, the severe floods caused more than 360 fatalities, with more than 100 people missing and 320,000 people displaced, forcing them into temporary camps/evacuation centres that were often overcrowded and lacked sufficient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Likewise, the floods and landslides caused the destruction of more than 141,000 buildings, including homes, schools, offices, and critical infrastructure, such as 533 roads and bridges. Furthermore, several concurrent low-pressure systems around Bay of Bengal resulted in persistent rains, leading to additional flooding. In the beginning of October, recurrent flooding impacted Mandalay region, Eastern and Southern Shan states, disrupting needs analysis, relief deliveries, and humanitarian assistance efforts, while compounding the needs of the vulnerable population affected by multiple hazards. Local markets, health facilities, and homes were devastated, significantly reducing access to food, water, and medical supplies. (IFRC, 20 Nov 2024)

In Lao PDR, Tropical Cyclone Yagi and the Southwest Monsoon have affected 1,208 villages across 106 districts in 15 provinces, including Vientiane Capital and Borikhamxay. According to the NDMO Lao PDR, the cyclone and monsoon have resulted in seven fatalities and impacted approximately 185,800 people (76,100 families).The estimated cost of damages stands at around 7.9 million USD, with significant destruction including 252 road sections, 77 schools, 11 health facilities, 298 houses, and 24,600 hectares of agricultural land. (AHA Centre, 27 Sep 2024). An estimated 48,500 children have been impacted, with at least 24,000 children in need of critical support. Approximately 92,000 people are in need of water, sanitation, and health services; 10,000 children and adolescents affected by the floods are in need of community-based mental health and psychosocial support activities. (UNICEF, 26 Sep 2024)

Some 3.6 million people in nearly half (26) of Viet Nam’s 63 provinces and cities were affected by the typhoon and subsequent floods and landslides. Across the country, more than 240,599 homes, 1,530 schools, and 570 health facilities were damaged, with another 73,248 homes submerged in floodwaters. More than 72,500 people are estimated to be in need of safe shelter as a result of destroyed or severely damaged homes. About 570,000 people, including approx.163,020 children, are in need of assistance. The hardest-hit areas include rural, ethnic minorities and low-income communities where children were already facing multiple challenges. (UNICEF, 1 Oct 2024)

Typhoon Yagi was recorded as the strongest typhoon Viet Nam has experienced in the past 30 years. It affected the entire northern region, home to a population of 19 million. Among the 12 most damaged provinces, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai have declared a state of emergency. As of 27 September 2024, the typhoon resulted in 318 deaths, 26 missing persons, 1,976 injuries, the evacuation of over 130,000 people, and initial damages amounting to more than VND 81,000 billion (approximately CHF 2,43 billion), as reported in the conference on “Preliminary, evaluating, learning experiences on the prevention and overcoming of the consequences of typhoon No. 3” chaired by the Prime Minister of Viet Nam and attended by the leaders of ministries, branches, 26 provinces and cities. The typhoon left a trail of devastation, affecting public and private properties, including offices, schools, and buildings, many of which suffered roof damage, while large areas experienced disruptions to telecommunications and power. (IFRC, 11 Oct 2024)

As of 23 October, the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) reported 321 deaths, 24 people missing, and 1,978 people injured. Many homes, healthcare facilities, schools were also damaged because of Typhoon Yagi and subsequent rains and landslides. The Typhoon affected 3,6 million people across 26 provinces, with the response prioritizing 1,6 million people in 11 provinces. Efforts are focused on reaching 570,000 individuals in need, targeting 300,000 in the three hardest-hit provinces: Yen Bai, Lao Cai, and Cao Bang. (OCHA, 24 Oct 2024)

Following the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi—one of the most powerful storms to hit Southeast Asia in decades – heavy rains have continued to batter many of the hardest-hit areas. Needs assessments reveal that over 5.6 million people, including at least 1.6 million children, were directly affected by the resulting floods and landslides across Viet Nam, Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Thailand. The disaster has severely disrupted access to clean water, essential social services, education, healthcare, food, and shelter, leaving millions in urgent need of assistance. (UNICEF, 6 Dec 2024)

[In Vietnam], three months after the typhoon children and families in affected areas still face acute deprivations and risks. Health and water systems remain damaged, denying 570,000 people access to safe drinking water and clean sanitation, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and interruptions to routine immunization. About 220,000 children under five and 70,000 pregnant and lactating women remain at risk of malnutrition due to disrupted health and other services, food shortages and lack of clean water. Over 830,000 children in the worst-affected areas experienced a loss of 60-120 hours of learning and are being impacted by the damage to school infrastructure and learning materials. Disruptions of education in typhoon-affected regions, which already have lower learning outcomes, are increasing existing disparities, especially among ethnic minority children. (UNICEF, 18 Dec 2024)