Recovery Efforts After Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam

Typhoon Yagi has been the most powerful storm in three decades to impact the East Sea, and the strongest to hit mainland Vietnam in 70 years. Its effects linger, affecting people’s lives, possessions, livelihoods, and mental health.

In response to the ongoing hardships caused by the storm, the Vietnamese political system, alongside its citizens, has come together to provide crucial support to the impacted regions, offering both physical and emotional assistance.

Attention is now geared towards the swift rebuilding of the areas that suffered the most from the disaster.

On September 7, Typhoon Yagi struck Quang Ninh, causing extensive damage for several hours. Wind speeds reached levels of 13-14, with gusts peaking at level 17, and rainfall accumulated between 100-250mm, leading to havoc in the province.

Within five hours, the landscape of Quang Ninh resembled a “battlefield,” with fallen trees, damaged power lines, and collapsed structures. Even tall buildings struggled against the storm’s intensity, leading to shattered windows, while large ships, despite being securely anchored, were either sunk or displaced by the powerful waves.

In the aftermath, Quang Ninh faced 29 fatalities, 1,609 injuries, over 100,000 homes damaged, and 165 vessels lost. Furthermore, the province encountered widespread power and telecommunications disruptions from September 7 to 9.

The economic impact for Quang Ninh reached approximately 24.223 trillion VND, accounting for nearly half the national damage caused by Typhoon Yagi. In a notable decision, Quang Ninh declined a 100 billion VND aid package from the Central Government, choosing instead to redirect these funds to mountainous regions in greater need.

Due to a strong spirit of self-reliance and assistance from the Central Government, Quang Ninh has quickly restored vital services such as electricity, water, and communication. Educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and industrial areas are back in operation, and Ha Long Bay has reopened for tourists.

In the most impacted zones like Ha Long City, reconstruction has progressed quickly. This city reported 63,000 damaged buildings with an economic setback of 9 trillion VND. Community task forces sprung into action to tackle the wreckage. Major roadways were cleared, and businesses initiated rebuilding efforts within just 48 hours post-storm.

The city’s sanitation initiative removed over 12,000 tons of debris, revitalizing urban spaces and beaches crucial for the tourism sector’s recovery.

In the subsequent weeks after Typhoon Yagi, Quang Ninh introduced essential policies to aid residents and businesses affected by the storm. On September 23, the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Council came together to approve three resolutions focused on recovery.

Among these measures is the coverage of 100% tuition fees for preschool, elementary, and secondary students, as well as adult learners for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Households with destroyed or damaged shelters will receive financial support ranging from 50 to 100 million VND, while owners of sunken vessels are eligible for salvage aid between 15 to 50 million VND.

By the end of 2024, the province aims to assist over 1,800 families in either constructing new homes or repairing existing ones. Quang Ninh has also allocated 1 trillion VND from its savings for reconstruction and social welfare initiatives, including increasing the monthly social assistance amount to 700,000 VND.

In light of the storm’s economic impact, the provincial government has urged banks to provide assistance to businesses affected by the disaster. An estimated 12,700 clients with outstanding loans totaling 741 billion VND were disrupted due to the storm.

Provincial Chairman Cao Tuong Huy instructed the Social Policy Bank to extend supplementary loans to help families return to work and business. Loan payments for storm victims have been suspended until December 31, 2024. Additional strategies include extending repayment timelines, freezing debts, and waiving interest incurred during the payment freeze.

Various commercial banks have joined efforts by reducing interest rates by 0.5-2% per annum, waiving late fees, and offering favorable loan conditions, mainly targeting short-term loans.