Death toll reaches 197 in Vietnam amid floods and landslides

At least 322 people have been reported dead or missing following devastating floods in northern Vietnam caused by deadly Typhoon Yagi, according to the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The severe flooding and landslides, which have struck several northern provinces, have claimed 197 lives, with an additional 128 people still unaccounted for, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media sources.

In response, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered all ministries, agencies, and local authorities to prioritize the safety of affected residents. He urged swift mobilization of resources to restore normalcy in the hardest-hit areas.

The prime minister emphasized the urgent need for the delivery of food, fresh water, and medicine to isolated communities and directed authorities to closely monitor dams, reservoirs, and high-risk areas for further flooding and landslides. Evacuations from vulnerable regions are also being expedited.

This catastrophic flooding, which began late last week, is being regarded as one of the most devastating disasters in recent Vietnamese history.

Before making landfall in Vietnam, Yagi tore through southern China and the Philippines, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens of others.

Typhoons in the region are now forming closer to the coast, intensifying more rapidly, and staying over land for longer owing to climate change, according to a study published in July.