Shocked residents of central Vietnam were reassembling their homes and businesses on Saturday after a strong typhoon hit large swaths of the coast, killing not less than 4 people.
Typhoon Doksuri barreled through Vietnam on Friday afternoon, reducing structures to piles of rubble and knocking out power and telecommunications in several provinces in certainly one of the worst storms to hit the country in years.
On Saturday, residents woke as much as widespread destruction in often idyllic coastal communities which can be popular with beachgoers.
“I sat at home covering my ears. I didn’t dare to go out because I was so afraid,” said Mai Thi Tinh, whose restaurant in Ha Tinh province was completely destroyed.
“The power is still off, so we can’t do anything. I don’t know how long it will take to recover.”
According to Vietnam’s Disaster Management Authority, not less than 4 people were killed and eight injured. Authorities said about 123,000 homes were damaged and trees and power lines were downed within the five worst-hit provinces.
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“The wind was so strong that I hid under the bed. I’m old, but I’m afraid of death,” said 70-year-old retired teacher Tran Ngoc Khang.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the devastated province on Saturday to evaluate the damage.
“We must quickly mobilize forces to repair houses and damaged schools… We must be certain that people can return to normal life,” he told state television.
As the storm approached, nearly 80,000 people were evacuated and the federal government deployed 250,000 troops and a fleet of vehicles and ships.
Vietnam’s central coast is frequently hit by storms, especially in the course of the tropical storm season from May to October.
According to official data, 140 people have died or gone missing in consequence of natural disasters since January.
Forecasters warned of flooding and landslides because the storm ripped through central and northern Vietnam, bringing with it heavy rain.
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: A typhoon wreaks havoc in Vietnam
