Casualties in Vietnam climb to 350 as Typhoon Yagi causes $1.6B in damage

Casualties from Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam have climbed to 350 as the powerful storm caused $1.6 billion in economic losses in the southeast Asian country, an official statement said on Monday.

An initial report showed that the typhoon, the strongest to hit Vietnam over the past seven decades, has left 350 people dead and missing in the country's northern region.

Another 2,000 people have been injured by landslides and other rain-related accidents.

Authorities evacuated some 53,000 people, and instructed more than 50,000 fishing farming vessels to find shelter in safer places.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the typhoon's preliminary total damage is estimated at around VND40 trillion ($1.6 billion).

The country's GDP, he added, may shrink by 0.35% and 0.22% in the next two quarters and 0.15% this year.

The government has launched a support campaign to raise a fund of at least VND1 trillion ($40.7 million) from domestic and foreign donors for storm-hit residents.

Australia, the US, Japan, Switzerland, and South Korea have also pledged to support Vietnam to overcome the consequences of Typhoon Yagi.

India, Japan, and New Zealand have already shipped aid to Vietnam.

Yagi packed powerful winds and heavy rains after it struck Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand over a week ago, triggering floods and landslides that have killed more than 400 people.

- $15M flood damages Thailand

Thailand saw damages of up to $15 million, mostly in the northern areas, due to the typhoon.

The northern province of Chiang Rai has seen the worst flood damage, with much of its infrastructure still under water.

The typhoon, which mostly struck the north of the country, has impacted more than 133,000 families in 28 provinces.