Quang Ninh mobilizes rapid reconstruction after devastating Typhoon Yagi

Typhoon Yagi, the most intense storm to hit the East Sea in 30 years and the most severe to strike mainland Vietnam in 70 years, caused significant damage to lives, property, livelihoods, and the mental well-being of the people.

Amid continuous storm-related challenges, the entire political system and the people of Vietnam have come together to support the affected regions, delivering timely aid in the form of both material and emotional support.

Now, the focus has shifted to the rapid reconstruction of areas devastated by the storm.

On the afternoon of September 7, Typhoon Yagi made landfall directly on Quang Ninh, unleashing devastation for hours. With wind speeds reaching levels 13-14 and gusts up to level 17, accompanied by 100-250mm of rainfall, the storm ravaged the province.

In just five hours, Quang Ninh was transformed into a "battlefield," with fallen trees, broken power lines, and collapsed buildings scattered across the province. Even high-rise buildings could not withstand the storm, with many windows shattered by the fierce winds. Despite being securely anchored, large ships were still sunk or swept away by the powerful waves.

Following the storm, Quang Ninh recorded 29 deaths, 1,609 injuries, over 100,000 homes damaged, and 165 vessels destroyed. The province also experienced widespread power and telecommunications outages from September 7 to 9.

The economic damage in Quang Ninh amounted to a staggering 24.223 trillion VND, nearly half of the total damage caused by Typhoon Yagi across the country. Despite this, Quang Ninh chose to forgo a 100 billion VND aid package from the Central Government, opting to pass it on to other mountainous regions in need.

Thanks to the spirit of self-reliance and support from the Central Government, Quang Ninh has swiftly restored electricity, water, and communications services. Schools, healthcare facilities, and industrial zones have resumed operations. Even Ha Long Bay has reopened to tourists.

In the hardest-hit areas, such as Ha Long City, reconstruction efforts have been especially rapid. The city, which suffered 63,000 damaged structures and economic losses of 9 trillion VND, mobilized task forces and the community to address the destruction. Within just two days of the storm, major roads were cleared, and damaged businesses began implementing reconstruction plans.

The city’s sanitation campaign collected over 12,000 tons of debris, restoring the urban environment and beaches to their former state, which is vital for economic recovery, especially in tourism.

In the two weeks following Typhoon Yagi, Quang Ninh introduced several critical policies to support affected residents and businesses. On September 23, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council unanimously approved three resolutions aimed at post-disaster recovery.

One resolution includes 100% tuition fee support for preschool, elementary, and secondary school students, as well as for adult learners during the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, households with collapsed or damaged homes will receive financial support ranging from 50 to 100 million VND. Owners of sunken ships will be eligible for 15 to 50 million VND in salvage assistance.

By the end of 2024, the province plans to assist over 1,800 households in rebuilding or repairing their homes. Quang Ninh has also allocated 1 trillion VND from savings to fund post-disaster reconstruction and social welfare programs, including raising the social assistance standard to 700,000 VND per month.

In response to the storm’s economic toll, the provincial government has called on banks to implement support measures for affected businesses. It is estimated that 12,700 customers with outstanding loans totaling 741 billion VND were impacted by the storm.

Provincial Chairman Cao Tuong Huy has directed the Social Policy Bank to provide supplementary loans to help households resume production and business activities. Loan interest payments have been suspended until December 31, 2024, for those affected by the storm. Additional measures include extending repayment deadlines, freezing debts, and waiving interest accrued during the repayment freeze.

Several commercial banks have also stepped in to support local businesses by reducing interest rates by 0.5-2% annually, waiving overdue interest fees, and providing preferential loans, particularly short-term loans.