Latest news with #TyphoonYagi
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Viet village's climate exodus
NGUYEN Thi Kim's small verdant community in northern Vietnam no longer exists, wiped away in a landslide triggered by Typhoon Yagi's devastating heavy rains last year. She and dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide risks. It is an example of the challenges communities around the world face in adapting to climate change, including more intense rains and flash floods like those Typhoon Yagi brought last September. Kim lost 14 relatives and her traditional timber stilt home when Yagi's rains unleashed a landslide that engulfed much of Lang Nu village in mountainous Lao Cai province. The storm was the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades, killing at least 320 people in the country and causing an estimated US$1.6bil in economic losses. It is unlikely to be an outlier though, with research last year showing climate change is causing typhoons in the region to intensify faster and last longer over land. Climate change, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, impacts typhoons in multiple ways: a warmer atmosphere holds more water, making for heavier rains, and warmer oceans also help fuel tropical storms. Kim remains traumatised by the landslide. She says everything is painful, especially the memory of the moment a torrent of mud swept her and her two-year-old daughter away. An aerial view of recently built houses at the new site of Lang Nu village. — AFP 'This disaster was too big for us all,' she said recalling the moment the pair were pulled from the mud hours later. 'I still cannot talk about it without crying. I can't forget,' the 28-year-old said. Yagi hit Vietnam with winds in excess of 149kph and brought a deluge of rain that caused destructive flooding in parts of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. In Lang Nu, 67 residents were killed, and authorities vowed to rebuild the homes of survivors in a safe spot. By December, 40 new houses were ready at a site around 2km away. It was chosen for its elevation, which should be less impacted by adjacent streams, and its relatively gentle slope gradient. 'Predicting absolute safety in geology is actually very difficult,' said Tran Thanh Hai, rector of Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, who was involved in choosing a new site. But the site is secure, 'to the best of our knowledge and understanding'. Lao Cai is one of Vietnam's poorest areas, with little money for expensive warning systems. However, a simple drainage system runs through the new community, diverting water away from the slope. This should reduce soil saturation and the chances of another landslide, said scientists who worked on the site. The village's new homes are all built of sturdier concrete, rather than traditional wood. 'We want to follow our traditions, but if it's not safe any longer, we need to change,' Kim said, staring out at the expanse of mud and rock where her old village once stood. Months later it remains frozen in time, strewn with children's toys, kitchen pans and motorcycle helmets caught up in the landslide. Like Kim, 41-year-old Hoang Thi Bay now lives in the new village in a modern stilt house with steel structural beams. Her roof, once made of palm leaves, is now corrugated iron and her doors are aluminium and glass. She survived the landslide by clinging desperately to the single concrete pillar in her old home as a wall of mud and rocks swept her neighbourhood away. 'I still wake up in the night obsessing over what happened,' she said. 'Our old house was bigger and nicer, with gardens and fields. But I sleep here in the new house and I feel much safer,' she said. Even at the new site, home to around 70 people, there are risks, warned Hai. Development that changes the slope's gradient, or construction of dams or reservoirs in the area could make the region more landslide-prone, he said. Building more houses or new roads in the immediate area, or losing protective forest cover that holds earth in place, could also make the site unsafe, added Do Minh Duc, a professor at the Institute of Geotechnics and Environment at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi. Yagi wiped out large areas of mature natural forest in Lao Cai and while private companies have donated trees for planting, it is unclear whether they can provide much protection. 'In terms of landslide prevention, the only forest that can have good (protective) effects is rainforest with a very high density of trees, so-called primary forest,' explained Duc, an expert on disaster risk maps who also helped choose the new site. Leaving the old community was hard for Kim, whose family had lived and farmed there for nearly half a century. But she is grateful that she and other survivors have a second chance. 'I believe this is the safest ground for us.' — AFP
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wildfires and Floods Caused Billion-Dollar Economic Loss in Asia Pacific in the first quarter of 2025: Aon Report
• Q1 data follows $74B economic loss in Asia Pacific from natural disasters in 2024 • Earthquake in Myanmar estimated to be the costliest event of the year so far, with only a fraction insured SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 May 2025 - Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, published Asia Pacific (APAC) insights from its Q1 Global Catastrophe Recap – April 2025, which analyzes the natural disaster events that occurred worldwide during the first quarter of 2025. During this period, the APAC region experienced significant wildfire activity, particularly in South Korea and Japan. South Korea faced devastating wildfires that resulted in 31 deaths, 49 injuries and the destruction of over 7,700 structures with losses estimated at approximately $1B. The earthquake that occurred in March in Myanmar is the costliest event of the year so far. Damage is expected to reach billions of dollars and only a fraction is covered by insurance. The costliest event for APAC insurers was ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with insured losses of approximately AU $1B. The Q1 data follows Aon's 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight report, which identified global natural disaster and climate trends to quantify the risk and human impact of extreme weather events in 2024, where total economic losses in APAC were $74B, with insurance covering only approximately $4B. The main driver of economic losses in 2024 was flooding, with a significant contribution from seasonal floods in China. Two major events: the Noto earthquake in Japan and Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia and China also accounted for a large proportion of the losses. Typhoon Yagi was one of the most severe storms to hit Southeast Asia since Typhoon Rammasun in 2014. The storm caused extensive damage across Vietnam, China, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand, resulting in significant economic and insured losses. This event highlights the importance of considering both wind and flood risks in typhoon-prone areas. George Attard, CEO for Reinsurance Solutions for APAC at Aon, said: 'The devastating earthquake in Myanmar, which caused at least 5,400 deaths and significant structural and infrastructure loss, underscores the importance of being prepared for catastrophe-related risks. Extreme weather and seismic events remain a powerful force driving the complexity and volatility that businesses and communities face and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative mitigation solutions to address this growing challenge.' Aon's 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight report highlights several trends with natural catastrophe losses: • Growing Disaster Losses: Global insurance losses in 2024 were 54 percent above the 21st-century average, covering $145B of the $368B in damages. Even though insured losses far exceeded the average, the protection gap stood at 60 percent, representing a significant financial headwind to communities, businesses and governments. In the APAC region, the protection gap was much higher with 95 percent of the losses not covered. Increases in population density in coastal areas, wealth and overall exposure to natural hazards in high-risk areas continue to be a crucial component of growing disaster losses. • Earthquake Risks: April 2024 saw a significant earthquake impact in Taiwan, while Japan experienced the Noto Peninsula earthquake on January 1, 2024. This emphasises the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness for seismic events. • Exposure Changes: Changes in exposure is a growing challenge for insurers and clients. These changes, rather than climate risks alone, are driving shifts in loss patterns. Typhoon Yagi, for example, accentuated the importance of a regional risk management approach that extends beyond sovereign borders. • Advances in Flood Modelling: Despite the challenges, advancements in flood modelling have made significant strides in recent years. Advanced tools and data analytics can help businesses and governments understand the complexities of flood risk and prepare for future events. • Economic Impacts: The exposure of commercial infrastructure to extreme weather has increased, requiring companies and insurers to explore the impact of changing weather patterns on assets. While Typhoon Yagi made a significant impact on economic and insured losses in China, Vietnam and the Philippines, 2024 was a relatively quiet year for natural catastrophes in Asia when compared with the long-term regional trend. The economic and insured losses in the region also contrast with the global figures, where economic losses from natural disasters in 2024 are estimated at $368B, more than 10 percent above the long-term average since 2000. With greater resilience and mitigation measures in place, global economies can reduce damage and loss of life. In 2024, 18,100 people lost their lives due to natural hazards, mostly from heatwaves and flooding globally. This was below the 21st-century average of 72,400. The long-term decrease in global fatalities can be attributed to improved warning systems, weather forecasts and evacuation planning, underscoring the value of reliable climate data, insights and analytics. 'Asia is at the forefront of flood modelling,' said Peter Cheesman, head of Risk Capital analytics for APAC at Aon. 'Despite this, there remains a need for better tools and collaborations with public and private partnerships to help close the insurance gap. A comprehensive, multi-country strategy, together with advanced modelling and data inputs, are critical in helping risk managers prepare for future events as climate and exposure trends continue to evolve.' Aon's 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight report can be found here. Hashtag: #Aon #climaterisks #climate #catastrophe #catastropherisks #flooding The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Japan Times
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Japan Times
Vietnam village starts over with climate defenses after landslide
Nguyen Thi Kim's small verdant community in northern Vietnam no longer exists, wiped away in a landslide triggered by Typhoon Yagi's devastating heavy rains last year. She and dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide risks. It is an example of the challenges communities around the world face in adapting to climate change, including more intense rains and flash floods like those Typhoon Yagi brought last September. Kim lost 14 relatives and her traditional timber stilt home when Yagi's rains unleashed a landslide that engulfed much of Lang Nu village in mountainous Lao Cai province. The storm was the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades, killing at least 320 people in the country and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in economic losses. It is unlikely to be an outlier though, with research last year showing climate change is causing typhoons in the region to intensify faster and last longer over land. Remaining debris and items are displayed at a makeshift memorial at the original site of Lang Nu village on March 20. | AFP-JIJI Climate change, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, impacts typhoons in multiple ways: a warmer atmosphere holds more water, making for heavier rains, and warmer oceans also help fuel tropical storms. Kim remains traumatized by the landslide. She says everything is painful, especially the memory of the moment a torrent of mud swept away her and her two-year-old daughter. "This disaster was too big for us all," she said recalling the moment the pair were pulled from the mud hours later. "I still cannot talk about it without crying. I can't forget," the 28-year-old said. 'We need to change' Yagi hit Vietnam with winds in excess of 149 kilometers (92 miles) per hour and brought a deluge of rain that caused destructive flooding in parts of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. In Lang Nu, 67 residents were killed, and authorities vowed to rebuild the homes of survivors in a safe spot. By December, 40 new houses were ready at a site around two kilometers away. It was chosen for its elevation, which should be less impacted by adjacent streams, and its relatively gentle slope gradient. "Predicting absolute safety in geology is actually very difficult," said Tran Thanh Hai, rector of Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, who was involved in choosing a new site. But the site is secure, "to the best of our knowledge and understanding." Children play in the street at the new site of Lang Nu on March 19. | AFP-JIJI Lao Cai is one of Vietnam's poorest areas, with little money for expensive warning systems. However, a simple drainage system runs through the new community, diverting water away from the slope. This should reduce soil saturation and the chances of another landslide, scientists who worked on the site said. The village's new homes are all built of sturdier concrete, rather than traditional wood. "We want to follow our traditions, but if it's not safe any longer, we need to change," Kim said, staring out at the expanse of mud and rock where her old village once stood. Months later it remains frozen in time, strewn with children's toys, kitchen pans and motorcycle helmets caught up in the landslide. 'Safest ground for us' Like Kim, 41-year-old Hoang Thi Bay now lives in the new village in a modern stilt house with steel structural beams. Her roof, once made of palm leaves, is now corrugated iron and her doors are aluminium glass. She survived the landslide by clinging desperately to the single concrete pillar in her old home as a wall of mud and rocks swept her neighborhood away. "I still wake up in the night obsessing over what happened," she said. "Our old house was bigger and nicer, with gardens and fields. But I sleep here in the new house and I feel much safer," she said. Part of the original site of Lang Nu village on March 20. Dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide risks. | AFP-JIJI Even at the new site, home to around 70 people, there are risks, warned Hai. Development that changes the slope's gradient, or construction of dams or reservoirs in the area could make the region more landslide-prone, he said. Building more houses or new roads in the immediate area, or losing protective forest cover that holds earth in place, could also make the site unsafe, added Do Minh Duc, a professor at the Institute of Geotechnics and Environment at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi. Yagi wiped out large areas of mature natural forest in Lao Cai and while private companies have donated trees for planting, it is unclear whether they can provide much protection. "In terms of landslide prevention, the only forest that can have good (protective) effects is rainforest with a very high density of trees, so-called primary forest," explained Duc, an expert on disaster risk maps who also helped choose the new site. Leaving the old community was hard for Kim, whose family had lived and farmed there for nearly half a century. But she is grateful that she and other survivors have a second chance. "I believe this is the safest ground for us."
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Vietnam village starts over with climate defences after landslide
Photo: AFP LAO CAI: Nguyen Thi Kim's small verdant community in northern Vietnam no longer exists, wiped away in a landslide triggered by Typhoon Yagi's devastating heavy rains last year. She and dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide risks. It is an example of the challenges communities around the world face in adapting to climate change, including more intense rains and flash floods like those Typhoon Yagi brought last September. Kim lost 14 relatives and her traditional timber stilt home when Yagi's rains unleashed a landslide that engulfed much of Lang Nu village in mountainous Lao Cai province . The storm was the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades, killing at least 320 people in the country and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in economic losses. It is unlikely to be an outlier though, with research last year showing climate change is causing typhoons in the region to intensify faster and last longer over land. Climate change, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, impacts typhoons in multiple ways: a warmer atmosphere holds more water, making for heavier rains, and warmer oceans also help fuel tropical storms. Kim remains traumatised by the landslide. She says everything is painful, especially the memory of the moment a torrent of mud swept away her and her two-year-old daughter. "This disaster was too big for us all," she said recalling the moment the pair were pulled from the mud hours later. "I still cannot talk about it without crying. I can't forget," the 28-year-old told AFP. 'We need to change' Yagi hit Vietnam with winds in excess of 149 kilometres (92 miles) per hour and brought a deluge of rain that caused destructive flooding in parts of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. In Lang Nu, 67 residents were killed, and authorities vowed to rebuild the homes of survivors in a safe spot. By December, 40 new houses were ready at a site around two kilometres away. It was chosen for its elevation, which should be less impacted by adjacent streams, and its relatively gentle slope gradient. "Predicting absolute safety in geology is actually very difficult," said Tran Thanh Hai, rector of Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, who was involved in choosing a new site. But the site is secure, "to the best of our knowledge and understanding". Lao Cai is one of Vietnam's poorest areas, with little money for expensive warning systems. However, a simple drainage system runs through the new community, diverting water away from the slope. This should reduce soil saturation and the chances of another landslide, scientists who worked on the site told AFP. The village's new homes are all built of sturdier concrete, rather than traditional wood. "We want to follow our traditions, but if it's not safe any longer, we need to change," Kim said, staring out at the expanse of mud and rock where her old village once stood. Months later it remains frozen in time, strewn with children's toys, kitchen pans and motorcycle helmets caught up in the landslide. 'Safest ground for us' Like Kim, 41-year-old Hoang Thi Bay now lives in the new village in a modern stilt house with steel structural beams. Her roof, once made of palm leaves, is now corrugated iron and her doors are aluminium glass. She survived the landslide by clinging desperately to the single concrete pillar in her old home as a wall of mud and rocks swept her neighbourhood away. "I still wake up in the night obsessing over what happened," she told AFP. "Our old house was bigger and nicer, with gardens and fields. But I sleep here in the new house and I feel much safer," she said. Even at the new site, home to around 70 people, there are risks, warned Hai. Development that changes the slope's gradient, or construction of dams or reservoirs in the area could make the region more landslide-prone, he said. Building more houses or new roads in the immediate area, or losing protective forest cover that holds earth in place, could also make the site unsafe, added Do Minh Duc, a professor at the Institute of Geotechnics and Environment at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi. Yagi wiped out large areas of mature natural forest in Lao Cai and while private companies have donated trees for planting, it is unclear whether they can provide much protection. "In terms of landslide prevention, the only forest that can have good (protective) effects is rainforest with a very high density of trees, so-called primary forest," explained Duc, an expert on disaster risk maps who also helped choose the new site. Leaving the old community was hard for Kim, whose family had lived and farmed there for nearly half a century. But she is grateful that she and other survivors have a second chance. "I believe this is the safest ground for us."
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Vietnam village starts over with climate defenses after landslide
LAO CAI, Vietnam: Nguyen Thi Kim's small verdant community in northern Vietnam no longer exists, wiped away in a landslide triggered by Typhoon Yagi's devastating heavy rains last and dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide is an example of the challenges communities around the world face in adapting to climate change, including more intense rains and flash floods like those Typhoon Yagi brought last lost 14 relatives and her traditional timber stilt home when Yagi's rains unleashed a landslide that engulfed much of Lang Nu village in mountainous Lao Cai storm was the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades, killing at least 320 people in the country and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in economic is unlikely to be an outlier though, with research last year showing climate change is causing typhoons in the region to intensify faster and last longer over change, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, impacts typhoons in multiple ways: a warmer atmosphere holds more water, making for heavier rains, and warmer oceans also help fuel tropical remains traumatized by the says everything is painful, especially the memory of the moment a torrent of mud swept away her and her two-year-old daughter.'This disaster was too big for us all,' she said recalling the moment the pair were pulled from the mud hours later.'I still cannot talk about it without crying. I can't forget,' the 28-year-old hit Vietnam with winds in excess of 149 kilometers (92 miles) per hour and brought a deluge of rain that caused destructive flooding in parts of Laos, Thailand and Lang Nu, 67 residents were killed, and authorities vowed to rebuild the homes of survivors in a safe December, 40 new houses were ready at a site around two kilometers was chosen for its elevation, which should be less impacted by adjacent streams, and its relatively gentle slope gradient.'Predicting absolute safety in geology is actually very difficult,' said Tran Thanh Hai, rector of Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, who was involved in choosing a new the site is secure, 'to the best of our knowledge and understanding.'Lao Cai is one of Vietnam's poorest areas, with little money for expensive warning a simple drainage system runs through the new community, diverting water away from the should reduce soil saturation and the chances of another landslide, scientists who worked on the site village's new homes are all built of sturdier concrete, rather than traditional wood.'We want to follow our traditions, but if it's not safe any longer, we need to change,' Kim said, staring out at the expanse of mud and rock where her old village once later it remains frozen in time, strewn with children's toys, kitchen pans and motorcycle helmets caught up in the Kim, 41-year-old Hoang Thi Bay now lives in the new village in a modern stilt house with steel structural roof, once made of palm leaves, is now corrugated iron and her doors are aluminum survived the landslide by clinging desperately to the single concrete pillar in her old home as a wall of mud and rocks swept her neighborhood away.'I still wake up in the night obsessing over what happened,' she said.'Our old house was bigger and nicer, with gardens and fields. But I sleep here in the new house and I feel much safer,' she at the new site, home to around 70 people, there are risks, warned that changes the slope's gradient, or construction of dams or reservoirs in the area could make the region more landslide-prone, he more houses or new roads in the immediate area, or losing protective forest cover that holds earth in place, could also make the site unsafe, added Do Minh Duc, a professor at the Institute of Geotechnics and Environment at the Vietnam National University in wiped out large areas of mature natural forest in Lao Cai and while private companies have donated trees for planting, it is unclear whether they can provide much protection.'In terms of landslide prevention, the only forest that can have good (protective) effects is rainforest with a very high density of trees, so-called primary forest,' explained Duc, an expert on disaster risk maps who also helped choose the new the old community was hard for Kim, whose family had lived and farmed there for nearly half a she is grateful that she and other survivors have a second chance.'I believe this is the safest ground for us.'
