CADIS Team Vietnam responded to Typhoon Yagi survivors’ appeal

On 7 September 2024, Typhoon Yagi landed in Vietnam, striking the northern region and bringing torrential rain and winds exceeding 200 km/h. It left behind severe flooding and landslides, exacerbated by large upstream floods and prolonged downpours, particularly in the northern mountainous provinces and urban areas. Among the 12 most damaged provinces, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai have declared a state of emergency. As of 30 September 2024, the typhoon resulted in 318 deaths, 26 missing persons, 1,976 injuries, evacuation of over 130,000 people, and an estimated economic damage amounting to 3.3 billion USD, as the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported. It caused severe psychological trauma to many in disaster-affected areas, particularly children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups.

Typhoon Yagi was recorded as the strongest typhoon Vietnam has experienced in the past 30 years. It affected the entire northern region, home to a population of 19 million. Among the most damaged provinces, Yen Bai declared a state of emergency. On 16 September 2024, the CADIS Vietnam team, composed of 4 Camillian religious (priests and a deacon), three nurses and a physician, reached Yen Bai province and organized a relief intervention. The team has organized medical assistance to survivors, distributed packs of rice (10kgs) to over 3,000 survivors, and evacuated the handicapped and elderly using 2 of their ambulances.    

Before its impact in Vietnam, the typhoon initially landed in the Philippines, then China, and became a super typhoon as it landed in the northern Vietnamese provinces.