Prime Minister orders focus on search and rescue of missing Yagi victims

Addressing a virtual meeting with leaders of 26 localities on Sunday morning, Pham urged authorities to guarantee that no one is left hungry, homeless and unable to access medical services.

The Government chief tasked authorities to promptly resume electricity, water and telecommunication and other essential services and swiftly overcome the consequences of the superstorm.

Yagi, the most powerful storm hitting the East Sea over last three decades, struck Viet Nam's northern coastline on Saturday afternoon and killed at least 14 people and injured 176 others in five northern localities. More than 38,000 households with nearly 142,000 residents had to evacuate to safe areas, according to the Department of Rescue and Relief under the Ministry of National Defense.

Through Yagi weakened to a tropical pressure from 4 a.m. on September 8 and is moving west-northwestward to Laos at the speed of about 15 km, moderate rain and thunderstorms and heavy rains are expected across the northern region and Thanh Hoa province in the afternoon and evening of September 8.

The rainfall is anticipated to range from 100-200mm, and may exceed 400mm in some northern areas.

Authorities also warned of landslides in mountainous provinces in Northern Viet Nam over the next few days./.