Typhoon Yagi destroys a busy bridge in Vietnam
A busy bridge in northern Vietnam collapsed following strong typhoon Yagi, throwing 10 cars and two motorbikes into the Red River, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc said on Monday.
At least three people have been rescued so far and 13 others are missing after the collapse of the Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province, said Mr Ho. It is not clear if they ever died.
Part of the 375-meter (1230-foot) bridge is still standing, and the military has been ordered to build a pontoon bridge as soon as possible.
Yagi, Asia’s strongest typhoon this year, has killed at least 59 people since it hit Vietnam on Saturday, packing winds of up to 203 km/h (126 mph).
In the days since then, the typhoon has wreaked havoc in northern Vietnam.
At least 44 victims died in landslides and floods, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Monday – a 68-year-old woman, a one-year-old boy and a newborn baby among them.
More than 240 people were injured, and another 1.5 million were without electricity.
The storm also ripped through the roofs of buildings and trees.
Although it has weakened into a tropical depression, authorities have warned of more flooding and landslides as the storm moves west.
In Yen Bai province, where floodwaters reached one meter (three feet) high on Monday, 2,400 families have moved to higher ground as the water rises, AFP news agency reported.
The Yagi also sank and swept away a number of fishing boats. On Sunday, rescuers found 27 people adrift at sea after a dozen fishermen were reported missing.
About 50,000 people have been evacuated from coastal towns in Vietnam, with authorities warning them to stay indoors.
Schools were temporarily closed in 12 northern provinces, including Hanoi.
Before hitting Vietnam, Yagi left 24 people dead in southern China and the Philippines.
Scientists say that hurricanes and storms are becoming stronger, more frequent and longer over land due to climate change. Warmer ocean waters mean storms take on more energy, leading to higher wind speeds.
The warmer atmosphere also holds more moisture, which can lead to heavier rain.
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