Typhoon Yagi’s Aftermath: Bridge Collapse in Northern Vietnam Leaves 13 Missing

In the wake of Super Typhoon Yagi, a busy bridge in northern Vietnam has collapsed, plunging 10 cars and two scooters into the Red River. The Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province gave way on Monday, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc. While three people have been rescued, 13 others remain missing.

The collapse occurred after Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year, made landfall in Vietnam on Saturday with winds reaching 203 km/h (126 mph). The storm has claimed at least 59 lives in the country, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reporting that landslides and flash floods have accounted for 44 of those deaths. Among the victims are a 68-year-old woman, a one-year-old boy, and a newborn baby.

With part of the 375-meter (1,230 feet) bridge still standing, the Deputy Prime Minister has instructed the military to construct a pontoon bridge to restore access.

The typhoon has left a trail of destruction, causing widespread damage, uprooting trees, and leaving 1.5 million people without power. As the storm weakens into a tropical depression, authorities continue to warn of potential flooding and landslides as it moves westward.

Before striking Vietnam, Yagi also caused 24 fatalities in southern China and the Philippines. Scientists have linked the increasing strength and frequency of such storms to climate change, as warmer ocean waters fuel more powerful and longer-lasting storms.