Việt Nam stands resilient in the wake of Typhoon Yagi

The typhoon serves as a powerful reminder of the necessity for a comprehensive, long-term approach to disaster management.

Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Việt Nam in three decades, swept through the country on September 7, leaving behind severe damage, widespread flooding, and deadly landslides.

By 5:30pm on September 15, Yagi, combined with subsequent downpours, floods, and landslides, had claimed 292 lives, with 38 people still missing. The storm devastated nearly 232,000 homes, inundated over 190,000 hectares of rice, 48,000ha of other crops, and destroyed around 32,000ha of fruit trees.

More than 3,269 aquaculture cages were damaged or swept away, and over 2.6 million livestock and poultry perished. The Ministry of Planning and Investment estimated material losses at approximately VNĐ50 trillion (US$2 billion).

Unusual characteristics

Mai Văn Khiêm, director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, noted that Yagi was the most powerful tropical storm to hit the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) in the past 30 years. The storm intensified rapidly, increasing by eight levels in just 24 hours, and retained its super typhoon strength for an extended period. Even after making landfall on Hainan Island, China, it maintained super typhoon intensity.

A particularly striking feature of Yagi was its irregular weakening pattern. Typically, storms lose strength quickly after passing Hainan Island and entering the Gulf of Tonkin, but Yagi defied this trend. It retained a wind speed of 118plus km/hr at level 12, top level on the Beaufort wind scale as it approached Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng and lingered over land for 12 hours.

While Yagi eventually weakened into a tropical depression as it moved inland over north-western Việt Nam, unusually heavy rains fell east of the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range—unlike typical storms, which usually bring heavier rains to the west of the range. Rainfall exceeding 200mm per day was recorded in provinces along the Thao, Chảy, Lô, and Gâm river basins, persisting for several days after the storm dissipated. In some areas, more than 200mm of rain fell in just two hours.

"In discussions with international experts from Japan’s Regional Typhoon Forecast Centre and China’s Meteorological Bureau, all agreed on the unusual characteristics of Typhoon Yagi and the significant rainfall it triggered in the Gulf of Tonkin, Việt Nam's northern midlands, mountainous regions, and southern China," Khiêm said.

Record-breaking floods

Khiêm explained that from September 8, the heavy rainfall caused river and stream levels in northern Việt Nam to rise rapidly. The Thao, Lô, Thương, Gâm, Thái Bình, and lower Red, Lục Nam, and Hoàng Long rivers all surpassed alarm level 3, the top and most dangerous level, with some rising 3-4 metres above this threshold.

"Notably, the Thao River in Lào Cai and Yên Bái exceeded the historic flood peaks recorded 53 years ago. In Yên Bái, the flood crest reached 35.73m on the afternoon of September 10, surpassing alarm level 3 by 3.73m and the historic 1968 peak by 1.31m. At the Lào Cai station, water levels reached 86.97m, 3.47m above alarm level 3; at Bảo Hà, they peaked at 61.95 metres, 4.95 metres above alarm level 3, exceeding the 2008 flood peak by 1.02m," Khiêm said.

In Hà Nội, the Red River recorded its highest water level in 20 years. Widespread flooding occurred throughout the basins of the Red and Thái Bình rivers, the largest river systems in northern Việt Nam, with many locations exceeding rare thresholds. Severe flooding was reported in 20 of the 25 northern provinces.

Landslides and flash floods triggered by the heavy rains wreaked havoc across several provinces, including Cao Bằng, Hòa Bình, Lào Cai, Yên Bái, and Quảng Ninh. A particularly tragic landslide swept away Làng Nủ Village, in Phúc Khánh Commune, Bảo Yên District, Lào Cai, causing significant loss of life. The main factor behind these disasters was the unusually high rainfall in the northern mountainous region over the past three months, which was 40-60 per cent higher than the multi-year average.

Lào Cai experienced rainfall on 23 of 31 days in August, while Yên Bái saw rain on 21 days—a rare frequency. With already saturated soil, the prolonged heavy rains led to widespread landslides. Lào Cai experienced large-scale flash floods and landslides, while Yên Bái recorded more than 1,000 landslides, mostly smaller but widely dispersed.

Proactive disaster response

The Party, State, and Government led the response to Typhoon Yagi from the outset, mobilising the entire political system, communities, and key forces—especially the military, police, and local disaster response teams.

Recognising the destructive force of Yagi, the political apparatus at all levels swiftly engaged in disaster response efforts, strictly adhering to assigned responsibilities. The public played an equally proactive role, collaborating in disaster prevention and response. This collective effort helped mitigate the damage caused by the typhoon.

In less than two weeks, the Prime Minister issued 10 directives, closely monitoring developments and instructing ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on typhoon response and flood mitigation. The approach was characterised by proactive, decisive actions, with contingency plans in place for the worst-case scenarios.

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers personally visited affected areas to oversee the response efforts, working alongside local Party committees and authorities. They extended support to those impacted by the storm, floods, landslides, and flash floods. Ministries and local governments were actively involved, following developments closely and providing continuous guidance.

Before the typhoon made landfall, authorities guided more than 51,000 fishing boats and 220,000 crew members to safe shelters. Almost 53,000 people living in floating fish farms or vulnerable housing were evacuated. After the storm struck, more than 74,500 households—comprising 130,000 people—were relocated to safer areas in flood zones.

The military mobilised over 438,000 personnel and 6,600 vehicles for the typhoon response. Additionally, nearly 108,000 people and 2,100 vehicles were deployed to cope with floods, landslides, and flash floods. The police force engaged more than 150,000 officers to assist in the aftermath. Local authorities, youth unions, and disaster response teams were also fully mobilised to manage the typhoon’s consequences.

Throughout the typhoon and its aftermath, localities took proactive measures to control floods, ensure the safety of critical dykes and reservoirs, and manage water levels in irrigation and hydropower reservoirs effectively.

Despite comprehensive preparations and swift actions, Typhoon Yagi caused terrific damage. Key lessons have emerged from the response, particularly highlighting the critical role of leadership in disaster management.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan stressed the importance of the “four-on-the-spot” principle (local command, forces, materials, and logistics), which was tailored to the needs of local communities. He also underscored the crucial role of local leaders in reducing damage, particularly in mountainous areas prone to isolation during disasters.

A notable example is Ma Seo Chứ, village chief of Kho Vàng in Cốc Lầu Commune, Bắc Hà District, Lào Cai Province, who successfully evacuated 115 villagers, saving them from a deadly landslide. Similarly, 142 teachers and students at Mường Hum school in Bát Xát district were safely evacuated before a hill collapsed, destroying their school.

Minister Hoan emphasised the need for clearer communication, using detailed, illustrated forecasts tailored to specific groups, such as households, trees, and boats. These tools can help both residents and authorities better understand the potential destruction and make informed decisions.

Recovery efforts

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired a meeting with localities affected by the typhoon, emphasising the urgency of restoring livelihoods, stabilising inflation, and ensuring the rapid resumption of production and business operations.

The government has provided over VNĐ350 billion and 300 tonnes of rice in relief aid, with additional support on the way. The Việt Nam Fatherland Front has raised over VNĐ1 trillion to assist those affected by the typhoon.

As recovery efforts continue, the political system remains fully engaged in restoring normalcy for affected residents and businesses, in line with the Prime Minister’s call to "double our efforts" and work "for the people, for the nation".

In the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, numerous organisations, businesses, and citizens throughout the country have come together to provide material aid, helping affected communities overcome hardships and restore normalcy.

Many international friends have also stepped in to provide essential supplies to those impacted by the storm and floods. As of September 16, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has received pledges from 10 embassies and 16 international organisations, with commitments to deliver 160 tonnes of goods by air through the ministry.

All supplies arriving at Nội Bài International Airport are being promptly sent to the hardest-hit provinces, including Yên Bái, Lào Cai, Cao Bằng, Tuyên Quang, and Lạng Sơn, ensuring timely distribution to those in need.

Despite ongoing transport challenges due to damaged infrastructure, relief convoys continue to deliver essential goods to flood-stricken areas. Border guards and local authorities are working tirelessly, day and night, to search for those still missing and assist residents in cleaning up their homes after the floods.

In Hà Nội, where tens of thousands of hectares of rice, vegetables, subsidiary crops, and fruit trees were submerged or destroyed, military and police forces have been actively helping farmers harvest their damaged crops. Their efforts have been crucial in helping the affected regions recover quickly and focus on preparing for the coming winter planting season.

This outpouring of support, both from within Việt Nam and the international community, has provided much-needed relief for those grappling with the aftermath of the storm, reinforcing the country's resilience and commitment to rebuilding.

Long-term solutions

While efforts to address the floods and restore livelihoods continue, long-term strategies for effective disaster management are also being discussed.

Agriculture Minister Hoan called for enhanced forecasting and early warning systems, particularly for predicting rainfall and identifying flood and landslide risks. He stressed the importance of completing a national disaster risk map, detailing flood and landslide zones down to the village level.

Additionally, Hoan advocated for constructing flood and landslide prevention infrastructure in high-risk areas, installing automated flash flood warning systems, and relocating residents from vulnerable zones. Ensuring sustainable livelihoods for relocated communities should also be prioritised.

In terms of reservoir management, Hoan recommended reviewing inter-reservoir operation procedures in the Red River and Thái Bình River basins, particularly during flood seasons. He called for stronger safety measures for dams and reservoirs to ensure effective flood discharge systems and safe operations at key reservoirs, including those in Sơn La, Hòa Bình, Yên Bái, and Tuyên Quang.

On river flood management, Hoan urged protection of floodplain areas, especially for major rivers like the Red and Mekong. He recommended expanding flood discharge capacities for river-crossing structures, removing obstacles from river channels, and prioritising forest conservation efforts, particularly for natural and protective forests.

The recent typhoon underscored the critical need for resilient infrastructure. Hoan called for the repair and upgrading of essential dykes and sea embankments, particularly in areas damaged by the floods. Immediate attention is required to reinforce vulnerable sections of river dykes to ensure they can withstand future storms.

For coastal and lowland areas, continued efforts are needed to reinforce dykes along the Red and Thái Bình rivers, addressing weak points that may have emerged during the floods. Hoan warned against complacency, stressing that as floodwaters recede, issues related to dyke safety could still arise.

The typhoon serves as a powerful reminder of the necessity for a comprehensive, long-term approach to disaster management, with robust planning, infrastructure improvements, and strong community engagement essential for protecting lives and property from future natural disasters.