CaliToday (24/9/2025): Northern Vietnam is launching a massive recovery operation as the nation grapples with the devastating aftermath of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which has triggered a historic and catastrophic flooding event across the region.
The nation's focus is now firmly on the North, where urgent efforts are underway to address the consequences of what is being described as one of the worst floods in decades. Although the storm has dissipated, the immense volume of rainfall it left behind continues to cause widespread destruction.
Initial Damage Assessment Reveals Widespread Devastation
According to preliminary statistics from Vietnam's National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the flooding has inflicted severe damage. Tens of thousands of homes remain submerged, and vast areas of agricultural land, including rice paddies and aquaculture farms, have been completely wiped out, threatening the livelihoods of millions.
The mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An are reported to be the hardest-hit, suffering significant losses of life and property due to powerful flash floods and landslides that swept through communities. A definitive count of the casualties and the full economic toll is still being compiled as rescue teams reach more affected areas.
Massive Recovery and Relief Efforts Underway
In major cities like Hanoi, floodwaters have begun to recede, but they leave behind a thick layer of mud and debris. The immediate priorities for urban areas are now sanitation and disease prevention to avoid outbreaks of waterborne illnesses.
A full-scale mobilization of resources is underway. The Vietnamese military, public security forces, and volunteer teams are at the forefront of the relief efforts. They are working tirelessly to reach isolated and cut-off communities to deliver essential supplies such as food, clean drinking water, and medical aid. The damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has made many remote areas accessible only by boat or helicopter.
Ongoing Flood Risk from Dam Discharges
While the torrential rain has subsided, the danger has not fully passed. Major hydroelectric reservoirs in the North, which swelled to critical levels during the storm, are now being forced to discharge massive volumes of water to ensure dam safety. This necessary measure, however, means that downstream areas, including parts of the Red River Delta, remain at high risk of continued flooding for the coming days.
The people of Northern Vietnam now face the daunting task of cleaning up, rebuilding their lives, and recovering from a natural disaster of historic proportions.
