Typhoon Yagi Devastates Vietnam and Surrounding Regions, Leaving Death Toll at 35
Typhoon Yagi has wreaked havoc across Asia after making landfall in Vietnam on Saturday. The latest reports from Vietnam's disaster management authority indicate that at least 35 lives have been lost due to landslides and floods in the northern region of the country, with an additional 24 individuals reported missing.
As of Monday morning, officials cautioned that the storm's impact is far from over, with further flooding expected. Yagi is noted as the strongest storm to hit Asia in 2024, causing significant disruptions to electricity and telecommunications across several regions of Vietnam. While initial reports suggested the storm might weaken to a tropical depression, the meteorological institute has since indicated that the situation remains critical, with rainfall amounts reaching between 208 and 433 millimeters in just 24 hours.
The powerful winds associated with Yagi have generated wave heights of up to four meters along various coastlines. The persistent rainfall raises concerns over potential landslides as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of the storm.
The typhoon's fury was also felt on Hainan Island, known as China's Hawaii, where local authorities confirmed the deaths of four people due to wind gusts exceeding 230 kilometers per hour. The Philippines was the first country to bear the brunt of Yagi, reporting a death toll of 20 and 22 people still missing.
Climate change is cited as a contributing factor for the increasing frequency of such severe storms forming close to coastlines. Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, shares borders with China, Cambodia, and Laos, and is home to approximately 100 million people. As communities begin to assess the damage and respond to the ongoing crisis, the international community is keeping a close watch on developments in the region.
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