This report is produced by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam (RCO), in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It covers the period from 7 to 9 September 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
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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, i being the most affected.
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58 fatalities and 40 missing persons reported, with 746 people injured due to landslides and flash floods.
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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.
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Approximately 184,000 hectares of rice, secondary crops and fruit trees damaged or flooded, 47,566 houses damaged or destroyed, and significant damage to power infrastructure, bridges, and educational facilities.
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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.
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Before hitting Viet Nam, the typhoon brought devastation to the Chinese island of Hainan and to the Philippines, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens of others.
53K Affected people (displacement)
58 Fatalities and 40 missing
184K Hectares crops damaged or flooded
47,566 Houses damaged
438,275 People and 6,642 vehicles mobilized
746 People Injured
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Typhoon Yagi, which developed in early September, intensified into a super typhoon in the East Sea before making landfall in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces of Viet Nam on 7 September. The storm brought destructive winds (up to 213km/h) and heavy rainfall, leading to severe flooding and landslides across 26 provinces, including Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces where the storm's impact was most severe. In Binh Lieu district, heavy rains caused rivers to swell significantly, reaching peak water levels of 8,173 cm. On 8 September, the typhoon weakened further into a low-pressure area over Viet Nam with maximum winds below 39 km/h and was forecasted to gradually weaken and dissipate. However, with ongoing rains in the north of the country, authorities have warned of sustained or new flood risks.
58 people are confirmed dead and 40 missing, with most casualties related to landslides and flash floods in mountainous districts. 52,979 people were evacuated from flood areas and those prone to landslides, including Binh Lieu district where significant damage to homes and infrastructure occurred. Displaced populations are sheltered in Government-led locations, with priority given to vulnerable groups including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. However, there are ongoing needs for additional shelter, food, and essential services across affected areas.
Widespread power outages affected key provinces, with hundreds of electric poles damaged or destroyed, leading to power cuts to thousands of households and public facilities. Transportation networks were severely disrupted, including the collapse of multiple road sections and a major bridge, impacting mobility and access for emergency response teams and affected people. Key transportation hubs, including four northern airports, were temporarily closed. Humanitarian access to some affected areas remains a challenge due to ongoing floods and landslides, affecting access to search and rescue teams and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Over 183,000 hectares of agricultural land was damaged, including rice, secondary crop and fruit trees, leading to significant losses in food security and livelihoods for affected communities. This includes approximately 173,000 affected hectares of rice and secondary crops and 11,000 hectares of fruit trees. Schools in 12 northern provinces, including Hanoi, were closed. Damage to educational facilities, including the partial roof loss of an elementary school and other structural damages in schools was reported.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.