Parts of Vietnam, particularly the coastal regions, are slowly returning to normal after Typhoon Yagi struck on 7 and 8 September, killing at least 233 people. However, the more mountainous provinces in the north are still suffering from landslides and flooding. Since 11 September, the typhoon continued its deadly journey across Asia, causing severe flooding in Thailand and Burma, where a civil war was raging.
Halong Bay, south of Hanoi, has begun to welcome tourists again, local authorities announced, with ships resuming their cruise activities on Friday, September 13 under a now clear sky. This site known for its karst peaks planted in the sea is expected to attract 9.5 million visitors in 2024.
Thirty years have passed since the country was hit by a typhoon of such intensity. The north of the country had never experienced such destruction. Could some of the damage have been avoided? This very densely populated country of 100 million inhabitants is experiencing strong economic growth and the construction boom may have encouraged the development of places vulnerable to flooding. However, the time has come for the total mobilization of the communist authorities, who did not hesitate to send in the army to reinforce the rescuers. The tightly controlled media portray the trips of the new general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, former Minister of Public Security, in one part of the disaster areas, and of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the other.
It’s time for miracles
After a succession of tragic news stories – including the collapse of a bridge over the Red River on 9 September north of Hanoi – now is the time for miracles: a couple from the coastal province of Quang Ninh who had been caught by the typhoon while trying to reinforce the moorings of their fish farm off the coast of a small island survived for twenty hours, taking shelter in a large box made of wood and polystyrene which drifted almost 10 kilometres amid the raging waves. In Hanoi, the Red River began to see its level drop, after reaching a record 11 metres above normal on the night of 12-13 September.
In Lao Cai province, not far from the Chinese border, 123 villagers were found missing after their village was devastated by a landslide: they had taken refuge high in the mountains. Rescue teams joined them to bring them food and build a camp until they could return. The mountainous regions are populated by ethnic minorities who live in sometimes very remote places.
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