| In Short |
| Typhoon Yagi strikes northern Vietnam, causing widespread devastation across multiple provinces. |
| Hanoi’s iconic Phan Dinh Phung Street left in ruins, with centuries-old trees uprooted. |
| Ha Long City experiences severe damage, with residents describing the storm as the most powerful in decades. |
| Cleanup and recovery efforts are underway, but full restoration may take months. |
| The storm highlights the need for stronger infrastructure and disaster preparedness in Vietnam. |
The Northern Region of Vietnam tries to piece itself together in the face of the disaster left by Typhoon Yagi, the third major storm this year. This super typhoon crossed land into several provinces over the weekend, including the nation’s capital, Hanoi. It has been a sight to see: everything from trees ripped out of the ground to destroyed power lines has been seen in numbers never before witnessed by residents now joined in the massive cleanup operation by local authorities.
The Fury of Typhoon Yagi: Hanoi in Chaos
Hanoi, famous for its historical places and bustling streets, took the brunt of Typhoon Yagi. The storm came into the city at about Saturday night and left several districts in shambles. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper journalists said there was chaos observed at Ha Dong and Hoai Duc Districts, with so many uprooted trees and downed power poles and much litter lying on the street pavement.
One of the most famous streets of Hanoi is Phan Dinh Phung Street, and it has presently turned into a disaster zone. A lot of uprooted trees, which are centuries-old, blocked roads and damaged properties. Anh Nguyet, a tourist from the Province of Dong Nai, said she was shocked to see the scenes. “I came to Hanoi to see its beauty, but I see heartbreak instead,” she lamented. The street is unrecognizable, such a pity I do not capture in my photographs the beauty that it usually adorns.
For long-time resident Ngo Quang Khoi, who has been in Hanoi since his childhood, he said he had never experienced a strong storm. “The typhoon brought down trees that have stood here for centuries. It is a heart-shocking view,” he said, reflecting the sentiments of many Hanoians who now have to deal with rebuilding their lives and their city.
From Hanoi to Ha Long: Destruction Spreads Across Provinces
Its effects were not confined to Hanoi alone. The fierceness of the typhoon was felt in several northern provinces, which also included Quang Ninh, the site of the famous Ha Long Bay. In Ha Long City, residents woke up to a scene of destruction this Sunday morning. The seaside Tran Quoc Nghien Street was littered with fallen trees, broken glass, and debris from shattered buildings.
Van, a resident of Ha Long City, said living through the storm was terrifying. “The wind was so strong, it tore the roof off our house and sent it flying 700 meters away,” she recalled. “The typhoon was roaring from 10:00 am until late Saturday night. I have never experienced such a thing in the 50 years I’ve lived here.”
Another resident Ha agreed with Van in saying, “Although there was a typhoon warning, I did not expect the real power of the storm. This is most terrible storm I have ever experienced-the damages are overwhelming,” she said.
A Nation Mobilizes for Recovery
The regions affected by Typhoon Yagi are seeing rehabilitation activities in full swing. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the storm has weakened into a tropical depression after it moved further inland, though it has caused widespread destruction. Heavy rains and thunderstorms battered Northern Vietnam, along with Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh Provinces in the north-central area as the storm passed.
The work of cleaning up the mess and returning to normalcy has been undertaken by local authorities and residents. In the city of Ha Long, workers were out in force, clearing fallen trees and repairing homes and businesses damaged during the storm. But it may still be awhile before the full extent of the damages is assessed, as months may go by, even weeks, before the harder-hit areas are completely rehabilitated.
The Road Ahead: Lessons from Typhoon Yagi
The widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi brought to the fore the startling vulnerability of northern Vietnam with respect to extreme weather elements. The country should develop a plan that strengthens infrastructure and enhances disaster preparedness measures amid increasing numbers and intensities of storms due to climate change.
Now, the people of Hanoi, Ha Long, and other affected areas look at rebuilding and recuperating. But long after the debris is gone, the scars that Typhoon Yagi left will remain as a grim reminder of how powerful the storm had been-unprecedented in its power.
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