Typhoon Yagi Devastates Northern Vietnam, Disrupting Supply Chains and Forcing Mass Evacuations

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has evacuated thousands of residents from areas near the overflowing Red River as its waters flooded streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi. The powerful storm, which hit northern Vietnam a few days ago, has already claimed at least 152 lives. As the strongest typhoon in Asia this year, Yagi brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, causing widespread destruction and flooding. The Red River, the largest in the region, saw water levels rise significantly, resulting in the collapse of a major bridge.
In addition to the 152 reported deaths, the Vietnamese government has confirmed that 140 people remain missing due to landslides and floods triggered by the storm. Schools in low-lying areas of Hanoi have been closed for the rest of the week, and mass evacuations continue. The Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, located near the city center, was also forced to evacuate its offices following official flood warnings.

Locations Previously Hit by Typhoon Yagi

Before striking northern Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi wreaked havoc in parts of the Philippines and southern China. In the Philippines, provinces such as Cagayan and Isabela faced the full brunt of the storm. Strong winds and torrential rain damaged homes, uprooted trees, and destroyed agricultural crops, particularly rice and corn, which are vital to the local economy. Many coastal areas were flooded, and several fishing communities were displaced. In total, thousands of families were forced to evacuate, and power outages affected large areas, leaving many without electricity for days. Southern China also experienced flooding and infrastructural damage as the storm continued westward, adding to the challenges faced by local governments in disaster response and recovery.

Impact on Factories and Global Supply Chains

Typhoon Yagi severely disrupted industrial operations in coastal export hubs east of Hanoi, where many factories and warehouses were flooded. The closures have affected some of the world’s leading companies, with Vietnam serving as a crucial link in global supply chains, especially for exports to the U.S. and Europe. Factory shutdowns are expected to last weeks, according to business executives, including Samsung Electronics, which operates a major facility in Thai Nguyen, responsible for producing half of its global smartphone output.

Widespread Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage

The typhoon also left 5.7 million people in northern Vietnam without electricity over the weekend, according to state utility EVN. By Monday, 1.5 million were still without power. The port city of Haiphong, a vital industrial hub, was among the worst hit.
In Phu Tho province, a key bridge over the Red River collapsed, leaving several vehicles stranded on it at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, in Yen Bai province, 2,400 households were evacuated due to rapidly rising water levels. Disaster authorities continue to monitor 130 flood-prone locations across 17 northern cities and provinces, warning of the continued risk of landslides.