SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan wrote to their Vietnamese counterparts on Wednesday (Sep 11) to offer their condolences on the loss of lives caused by Typhoon Yagi.
In his letter addressed to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Mr Wong wrote that he was “deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of lives and devastation” caused by the typhoon in many parts of northern Vietnam.
“On behalf of the Government of Singapore, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and my sincere sympathies to all those whose lives have been affected,” wrote Mr Wong.
“As a fellow ASEAN Member State, Strategic Partner, and close friend of Vietnam, Singapore stands ready to support Vietnam during this difficult time.”
Dr Balakrishnan wrote to Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.
“I am very sorry to hear of the serious impact of Typhoon Yagi, which has resulted in the tragic loss of lives and severe damage in northern Vietnam,” he wrote.
“I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and wish for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. Please let me know if Singapore can be of any assistance in the relief efforts.”
Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Vietnam’s Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces on Sep 7 after hitting southern China and the Philippines, bringing winds in excess of 149kmh.
The death toll rose to 179 on Wednesday as the typhoon, the strongest one in 30 years, led to deadly flooding and landslides. Vietnamese state media also reported 145 people missing.
The Red River in Hanoi also reached its highest level in 20 years, forcing residents to navigate waist-deep brown water as they retrieved possessions from their flooded homes, reported AFP.
Typhoon Yagi has also brought destructive floods to the neighbouring countries of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.