Vietnam. On Monday morning, a bridge in northern Vietnam’s Phu Tho province collapsed amid the severe effects of Typhoon Yagi. Reports indicate that at least ten vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, fell into the Red River after the 375-meter-long Phong Chau Bridge collapsed. Authorities have reported that thirteen people are missing following the incident, although Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc has said it is uncertain whether there have been any deaths. Rescue operations are actively underway, with part of the bridge still intact, and plans are being made to build a pontoon bridge to restore access to the affected area. The bridge collapse comes as Vietnam grapples with the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, which has been described as the most powerful storm to hit the region in decades.
Since making landfall on Saturday, the storm has killed at least 64 people, and severe floods and landslides have wreaked havoc in northern provinces. In a related incident, a passenger bus carrying twenty people was swept away by a landslide in Cao Bang province. Rescue efforts have faced significant challenges due to blocked roads and persistent heavy rainfall.
In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has announced emergency aid packages and directed the military to focus on rescue and recovery operations. Typhoon Yagi also severely disrupted industrial activities in northern Vietnam, causing widespread power cuts and significant damage to many factories. Millions of households and businesses faced power outages, with telecommunications services disrupted in various areas. As of Monday, more than 5.7 million customers had been affected, although more than 75 percent of power had been restored.
Industrial areas in Haiphong, a city of two million, suffered extensive damage, with factory roofs blown off and workers struggling to save equipment as heavy rains flooded production facilities. Notably, factories belonging to South Korean conglomerate LG Electronics in Haiphong suffered extensive damage, although no worker casualties were reported.