A busy bridge in northern Vietnam collapsed after being struck by Super Typhoon Yagi, which has claimed over 60 lives since making landfall on Saturday. Dashcam footage captured the moment when the Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province collapsed on Monday, sending several vehicles into the river below. Search operations are currently underway for 13 missing individuals.
Super Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in 30 years, has caused widespread devastation across the northern region, leaving 1.5 million people without power. Although it has since weakened to a tropical depression, authorities warn that it will continue to cause significant disruption as it moves westward. The storm, which brought winds of up to 203 km/h (126 mph), is recognized as Asia’s most powerful storm of the year. Over 240 people have been injured.
The collapse of the Phong Chau bridge led to ten cars and two scooters plunging into the Red River, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc. A dashcam captured the dramatic moment when a lorry fell into the river, with the bridge decking giving way before the driver had a chance to stop. Rescue efforts have so far saved at least three people from the water.
Nguyen Minh Hai, a survivor who was crossing the bridge on his motorcycle when it collapsed, described his harrowing experience. Speaking from the hospital, he recounted, “I was terrified when I fell. I can’t swim, and I thought I wouldn’t make it.”
Part of the 375-meter (1230-foot) bridge remains intact, and military units have been deployed to construct a temporary pontoon bridge to restore connectivity. Of the confirmed fatalities, 44 were due to landslides and flash floods, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The victims include a 68-year-old woman, a one-year-old boy, and a newborn.
The typhoon’s destructive force tore roofs from buildings, uprooted trees, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure and factories in northern Vietnam. Photos by Reuters show a collapsed wall at an LG Electronics factory in Hai Phong city.
In Yen Bai province, floodwaters rose to a meter on Monday, forcing the evacuation of 2,400 families. Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas, with authorities urging residents to stay indoors. Schools in 12 northern provinces, including Hanoi, have been temporarily closed due to the storm.
Nguyen Thi Thom, a restaurant owner in Ha Long Bay, shared her devastation after the storm. “Everything is gone. Looking around, others have lost everything as well,” she said. “All I can do now is try to rebuild.”
Before reaching Vietnam, Yagi caused 24 deaths in southern China and the Philippines. Experts suggest that as the planet warms, typhoons may intensify with higher wind speeds and more rainfall, though the influence of climate change on specific storms remains complex.
