Billions Lost as Super Typhoon Yagi Devastates Van Don
Van Don District in Quang Ninh Province is home to a large number of aquaculture farmers. During Typhoon No. 3, over 1,340 farms raising bivalves such as oysters, mussels, clams, and abalone, as well as fish farms, suffered heavy losses.
According to statistics, the total damaged output of aquatic products was estimated to be over 32,110 tons, including 25,637 tons of oysters, 636 tons of fish, and 5,840 tons of other seafood. In addition, there were also losses in newly-hatched seafood and those in the early stages of farming.
The estimated loss in aquaculture alone exceeded VND 2,280 billion (approximately USD 97 million), with oysters accounting for VND 1,353 billion, fish VND 533 billion, and other seafood VND 395 billion. The damage to infrastructure and other physical assets is still being assessed.
Residents salvage what’s left of their fish cages after the storm.
In the wake of Super Typhoon Yagi, the people of Van Don have been left devastated, with billions of dollars in losses. Mr. Dang Trung Hoi, Director of the Quang Ninh Milk Oyster Cooperative, recounted how the locals could only watch helplessly as their life’s work was swept away by the storm. “My family lost more than VND 20 billion. We specialized in fish and oyster farming and were the largest producers of milk oysters in Vietnam. Super Typhoon Yagi destroyed almost 90% of our assets. We now only have two boats left, and our farming infrastructure lies in ruins.”
Ms. Luu Thi Minh Luyen, Head of the Da Den Cooperative in Ha Long, Van Don, struggled to hold back her tears as she shared her story: “Eight years of hard work gone in an instant. My family lost over VND 6 billion, including our fish cages, 150 oyster lines, two fish cages, boats, and more. We had just recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and were about to harvest when the typhoon struck. My family alone has suffered losses amounting to VND 6 billion, and many other households have faced even greater devastation.”
In the aftermath of the super typhoon, Thang Loi Commune in Van Don presented a bleak picture of destruction. The sea was littered with floating debris and battered fish cages, reflecting the despair in the eyes of the locals. No one could believe that the storm had wreaked such havoc in just a few hours, taking away their life’s savings.
Mr. Vu Van Khoa from Cong Dong Village, Thang Loi Commune, choked back his emotions as he pointed to the ruins, “The typhoon left nothing but devastation. Everyone here has lost everything. Our fish and shrimp are gone, and there’s nothing left.” Before the storm, Mr. Khoa’s family had invested over VND 6 billion in more than 50 fish cages. Now, he has nothing left.
Thousands of oyster lines now reduced to a few buoys tangled on the sea surface.
In Thang Loi, 442 households depend on aquaculture for their livelihood, and 90% of them have been affected by the typhoon. Mr. Dinh Bui Hai Son, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thang Loi, recalled the helplessness they felt as they watched the cages drift away: “We were powerless in the face of nature’s fury. Typhoon Yagi took everything the people had along the shores of Cong Dong. Although they tried to salvage what they could from the sea, most of it was damaged beyond repair by the storm.” The aquaculture farmers of Van Don are now facing a daunting challenge as they struggle to recover from the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yagi.
Starting from Scratch
Demonstrating their resilience, the people of Van Don declared, “We will rise again, and in two years, we will be stronger than ever.” However, to get back on their feet, these aquaculture farmers need a lifeline. They are appealing to banks to freeze their debts and provide new loans with the lowest interest rates possible to help them restart their production. They are also requesting tax breaks on the sea surface area rented by the cooperatives.
Ms. Luu Thi Minh Luyen, Head of the Da Den Cooperative, echoed the sentiments of all the aquaculture farmers: “We want to start again, to rebuild our livelihoods from the sea.” She added, “We have always relied on the sea, and even after this devastating loss due to natural disasters, we still want to continue. We know that many people in the mountainous regions are suffering more, so we will do our best to recover and restart our milk oyster business. That is our goal. We started with nothing, and now we will do it again, facing this challenge head-on. We are doing our best and hope that the government will provide some support.”
Empty fish cages, a stark reminder of the storm’s impact.
As they await this much-needed support, the people of Van Don are taking matters into their own hands, putting aside their grief, and finding ways to rebuild. Ms. Bui Thi Vinh from Thang Loi shared that her family has been in a daze for days, mourning their losses. But now, they are determined to take action. With the help of her son-in-law, who provided VND 1 billion in capital, they are searching for whatever remains of their property and repairing their fish cages.
Ms. Luyen is also planning to borrow money from relatives to start over. Starting from scratch is never easy, but the people of Van Don remain optimistic about the potential of the marine economy. They understand that this was an unforeseeable natural disaster and are determined to unite and recover what they have lost. However, they desperately need a lifeline to revive the aquaculture industry in Van Don, and that lies in the swift implementation of supportive policies to prevent them from drowning in debt as they recover.
The Devastating Impact of Typhoon Yagi: Quang Ninh Province Endures Losses of Nearly VND 24,000 Billion
With initial reports coming in from various units and localities in Quang Ninh province, the estimated total damage caused by Typhoon No. 3 amounts to a staggering 23.77 trillion VND.
Seamless Operational Restoration: An Urgent Revival
The Prime Minister has instructed ministries, sectors, and local authorities to prioritize a critical task: ensuring that no citizen goes hungry, cold, or homeless in the aftermath of the storm and floods.
“Leading Developer Donates 20 Billion VND to Support Fellow Vietnamese in Wake of Storms and Floods”
Ecopark, a leading eco-conscious real estate developer, has launched a community initiative, “Joining Hands to Overcome Floods and Storms,” in response to the devastation caused by the recent Storm No. 3. With a strong commitment to sustainability and community welfare, Ecopark aims to rally support and assistance to help those affected swiftly recover from the storm’s aftermath.
The Devastating Floods: Laos Cai’s Loss Totals 3000 Billion VND
The impact of the tropical storm No. 3 has caused moderate to heavy rainfall in Lao Cai Province since the night of September 7th. The region has experienced extensive flooding, resulting in severe losses of life, infrastructure, and production for the state, citizens, and businesses.
Huawei Vietnam Donates 1 Billion VND to Support Flood Relief Efforts
At the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Huawei Vietnam Technology Company Limited donated VND 1 billion to support people in the northern provinces affected by Storm No. 3 (Yagi).
