A bridge in northern Vietnam’s Phu Tho province collapsed on Monday morning, as the region suffered the devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi. At least 10 vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, fell into the Red River after the 375-metre-long Phong Chau bridge collapsed, local media reported.
Super Typhoon Yagi caused a busy bridge to collapse in northern Vietnam.
According to local media, at least 10 vehicles fell into the river and 13 people were reported missing.
Deputy Prime Minister Miniter said it was unclear if there were any casualties as a result… pic.twitter.com/gHWXpRSJiK
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Officials have confirmed that 13 people are missing following the incident, although Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phok has said it is unclear whether there were any casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing, with a section of the bridge still standing. Attempts are being made to build a pontoon bridge to restore access to the area.
The bridge collapse comes as Vietnam is being battered by Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit the region in decades. The storm killed at least 64 people on Saturday, while severe floods and landslides caused widespread damage in northern provinces.
In addition to the bridge collapse, a passenger bus carrying 20 people was swept away by a landslide in Cao Bang province. Rescue teams are also hampered by blocked roads and ongoing heavy rain.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced an emergency aid package and directed the military to prioritize rescue and recovery efforts. Typhoon Yagi also caused significant disruption to industrial centers in northern Vietnam, with many factories losing power and causing severe damage.
Millions of homes and businesses lost power, and telecommunications were down in many areas. More than 5.7 million customers were left without power, with more than 75 percent of power restored by Monday.
Industrial areas in Haiphong, a city of two million, suffered heavy damage. Heavy rains ripped off factory roofs and workers struggled to save equipment as production plants were flooded. Factories of South Korean conglomerate LG Electronics in Haiphong suffered extensive damage, although there were no reports of casualties among employees.
The Vietnam Meteorological Agency has warned of the continued threat of floods and landslides, with northern regions expected to receive between 208 and 433 mm of rainfall over the past 48 hours.
