Samaritan’s Purse is responding to the deadly cyclone with emergency equipment and supplies.
UPDATE SEPT. 16: The Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 plane landed in Vietnam on Monday, Sept. 16, carrying 19 metric tons of relief supplies for families reeling from Typhoon Yagi. The materials—which include water filters, jerry buckets, solar lights, and kitchen kits enough to support 3,000 families—have been offloaded and will soon be distributed to the hardest hit communities. Please pray for Vietnam as the death toll continues to rise, and for Samaritan’s Purse staff as this vital aid is distributed.
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Catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi have killed over 200 people and displaced many thousands of residents in Vietnam since the cyclone made landfall last Saturday. Sustained wind speeds near 100 mph ripped apart homes and businesses in Yen Bai Province, while torrential downpours caused rivers to overflow and massive boulders to fall in the mountainous region.
Though the storm has passed, floodwaters have yet to subside and many dozens of people are still missing. Northern Vietnam has not seen a storm of this magnitude in decades.
Samaritan’s Purse staff are on the ground in Yen Bai, wading through flooded streets and neighborhoods to distribute emergency equipment to shaken residents in the area. Just days after the storm, we have provided 500 people with emergency equipment such as lifejackets, flashlights, and whistles. Samaritan’s Purse is working towards additional response opportunities, aiming to meet area needs such as clean water, food, and non-food items.
“I have lost everything,” said Phuong, a local resident. “The water rose fast to the roof at midnight. The only thing I could do was to escape and save my life. Everything is still submerged.”
Phuong, left, is one of the many Yen Bai residents to receive a lifejacket as part of our initial response to Typhoon Yagi.
Phuong is just one of many people uprooted by Typhoon Yagi to receive emergency supplies from Samaritan’s Purse.
Please pray for the people of northern Vietnam reeling from this devastating storm. Pray for Samaritan’s Purse staff in the country as our response begins.
Pray for the people of Vietnam as they recover from Typhoon Yagi.
