A man inspects his damaged boat following Super Typhoon Yagi’s impact on Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, on Sunday. Getty Images
Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, has been downgraded to a tropical depression as of Sunday, following severe damage across northern Vietnam, China's Hainan Island, and the Philippines. The storm has claimed dozens of lives and left a trail of destruction, according to early reports.
Vietnam's meteorological agency announced the downgrade on Sunday but warned that the risk of flooding and landslides remains high as Yagi moves west. This powerful storm, the most severe to strike Vietnam in decades, hit the country hard, causing significant disruptions in the capital, Hanoi.
On Saturday, Yagi brought intense winds and heavy rains that led to widespread power outages and communication breakdowns in Hanoi. The storm also caused severe flooding, toppled thousands of trees, and damaged numerous homes. Preliminary reports indicate that at least three people have died in Hanoi, a city with a population of 8.5 million. The total death toll in Vietnam has reached 14, with four fatalities reported from a landslide in Hoa Binh province, located about 100 kilometres south of the capital.
A 53-year-old motorcyclist lost his life when a tree fell on him in Hai Duong province. Additionally, rescue teams have recovered at least one body from the sea near Halong City, where a dozen people remain missing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, but they are currently hampered by challenging conditions.
In China, Typhoon Yagi has claimed four lives on the island of Hainan. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, where Yagi first made landfall, the death toll has risen to 20 from 16, with 22 individuals still unaccounted for.
The typhoon's impact has been severe. In Vietnam, Yagi generated waves as high as 4 meters (13 feet) in coastal areas, causing extensive power and telecommunications outages. This has made it difficult to fully assess the damage. The meteorological agency has issued warnings about the risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in northern mountainous regions and the coastal province of Thanh Hoa.
A man rides his motorbike around fallen trees on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam, after Super Typhoon Yagi struck on Sunday. Getty Images
On Sunday morning, as conditions began to improve in Hanoi, cleanup efforts were underway. Residents faced scenes of devastation, with toppled trees blocking streets and damaging property. "The storm has devastated the city. Trees fell on houses, cars, and people on the streets," said Hoang Ngoc Nhien, a 57-year-old Hanoi resident.
Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, the busiest in northern Vietnam, resumed operations on Sunday after being closed the previous day due to the storm.
In Hainan, early assessments suggest that Yagi caused significant economic losses and widespread power outages, according to local emergency response authorities.
As the storm weakens, the focus shifts to recovery and assessing the full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi across the affected regions.
