Vietnam: Strongest storm in decades destroys homes, schools as 27 children lose their lives in one village

A flooded classroom of a school supported by Save the Children. Photo by Bureau of Education and Training, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province

HANOI, 12 September 2024: At least 27 children from one village in Vietnam have lost their lives in a flash flood triggered by a massive storm that killed nearly 200 people and damaged or destroyed more than 188,000 homes, said Save the Children.

In Northern Vietnam, Lang Nu village - home to 158 people – was swept away by a devastating torrent of water and mud that surged down from nearby hills. The district authorities said 41 people were killed, including at least 27 children, with 54 still missing in the mud and debris.

Survivors described how the flash flood came at 5 am on 10 September when most people were asleep and ‘flattened’ the entire village. Save the Children has been working in partnership with authorities in the district since 2021, providing education and childhood development programmes.

More than 560 schools and 188,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in Vietnam by Typhoon Yagi [1]. About 239,000 children have seen their homes damaged or flooded, with many now staying with relatives or in government shelters. Water levels have risen in rivers, leading to more people moving to safer areas and adding to the over 52,000 who have already been evacuated [2].

Nearly 200 people have been killed, and at least 800 injured according to the government, after torrential rain wiped out farmland and cut power lines and roads during the worst storm in decades.

Le Thi Thanh Huong, Country Director, Save the Children in Vietnam said:

“Children have lost homes, schools and everything that is familiar. Many will also have lost loved ones. Typhoon Yagi swept through villages and washed away crops and livelihoods. Places where children lived, learned and played are now covered in mud and debris.

With some parts of Northern Vietnam still cut off by landslides and floods – and people still missing - the true numbers of people affected by this massive storm are likely to be even higher. Families in some of the most remote areas of Vietnam need urgent help and long term support – we must ensure that children are safe, protected and able to get back to school as soon as possible.”

Save the Children started working in Vietnam in 1990 and now operates in 22 provinces in partnership with government agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and academic institutions to deliver programmes in the areas of education, health and nutrition, child protection, child rights governance, child poverty, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Notes to editors:
[1] National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control https://phongchongthientai.mard.gov.vn/Pages/bao-cao-nhanh-cong-tac-truc-ban-pctt-ngay-119-2024.aspx

[2] https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/vietnam-china-philippines-tropical-cyclone-yagi-update-gdacs-un-ocha-aha-centre-ndrrmc-noaa-east-asia-echo-daily-flash-11-september-2024

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