Photo Credit: ABC News
A powerful typhoon traveled through the Philippines before hitting central Vietnam and causing multiple landslides, leaving various towns and villages destroyed and several declared dead on October 23rd.
Typhoon Molave had 85 miles-per-hour winds. Because of the ferocity of the storm, power has been lost for millions of people and more than 50,000 homes are ruined. Some households were buried in rocks, including the home of a government official. A landslide also trapped around 200 workers at a hydroelectricity plant, leaving authorities trying to hastily get them out while getting them the supplies they needed until they were successfully rescued. The rescue teams at various sites had to slow down due to unagreeable weather. “The road is covered under deep mud and heavy rains are still lashing the area, but rescue work has to be carried out quickly,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung according to Yan Zhuang at The New York Times.
Heavy machinery has been used by hundreds of soldiers who have set out in search and rescue teams. In one of the villages called Tra Leng, a landslide collapsed on multiple houses where about 45 people lived. There have been three bodies discovered so far, and four others who managed to escape. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung arrived at one of the landslide sites to oversee the troops clearing up the landslide. “We must reach the landslide site the fastest way. First, send in more soldiers before we can get the big machine there. We have to reach the area by all means, including by using helicopters,” he stated according to The Guardian.
Compared to previous typhoons in the past two decades, Typhoon Molave is one of the most powerful typhoons experienced in Vietnam. Even those out at sea were not safe. Twelve bodies of fishermen were discovered, from two fishing boats that sank. Meanwhile two navy ships are attempting to find about 14 other fishermen still missing, according to CNN.
Typhoon Molave is the fourth storm to have hit Vietnam in the past month. The Red Cross has said the country is not only left without homes or electricity, but also without any crops or safe water to drink. “We are heartbroken by more tragic loss of life as this typhoon has brought further misery and hardships to hundreds of thousands of people in central Vietnam,” stated Vietnam Red Cross Society President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, according to BBC News.
As the country continues to recover from Typhoon Molave, Vietnam must also prepare for a potentially stronger storm, Typhoon Goni, which is expected to strike on November 4, according to the Vietnam Vet.
