12-9-2024 (HANOI) Lao Cai province has been devastated by Typhoon Yagi, leaving a tragic toll of 243 casualties, including 88 confirmed deaths, 85 missing individuals, and 70 injured, according to reports. The fatalities were concentrated in several areas, with Sa Pa town and the districts of Van Ban, Bac Ha, Simacai, Bat Xat, and Bao Yen being the hardest hit.
In one of the worst incidents, a flash flood in Lang Nu village, located in Phuc Khanh commune of Bao Yen district, claimed the lives of 42 people, while 53 others remain missing. Seventeen survivors have been hospitalized, with three in critical condition transferred to Viet Duc Hospital in Hanoi. Fortunately, 43 people managed to escape the flood.
The ongoing search for the missing involves around 650 personnel, including 300 from Military Region 2’s Division 316, 100 police officers, and 250 local forces from the province, districts, and communes.
In addition to the human toll, significant damage has been reported across the province. A total of 7,438 houses have been damaged. Crops such as rice and corn, along with aquatic products, fruit trees, and livestock including buffaloes, cows, and pigs, have also been heavily affected.
Twelve communes in Lao Cai remain completely isolated as roads connecting them have been either flooded or blocked by landslides, rendering them inaccessible. Key routes, including National Highway 4E between Bac Ha and Simacai districts, and many roads linking communes and villages, have been severely damaged by erosion and flooding. Several areas in Lao Cai city and the districts of Bat Xat, Bao Yen, and Muong Khuong are also experiencing flooding due to rising water levels in the Red and Chay rivers.
As of September 12, 119 of the province’s 938 telecommunication lines have yet to be repaired, and 208 power stations remain non-operational.
The total estimated damage caused by Typhoon Yagi is believed to run into the thousands of billions of Vietnamese dong (VND). In response to the disaster, the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee has requested urgent assistance from the government, proposing a 500 billion VND support package to help mitigate the impact of the storm and aid recovery efforts.
