Typhoon left a trail of destruction across Vietnam

Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm this year, swept across China and Southeast Asia, leaving a trail of destruction with its intense rainfall and powerful winds. In Vietnam, it was the most powerful storm in 30 years and has claimed the lives of 281 people, with 67 still missing. Over 1,921 people have been injured, and more than 180,000 homes have been destroyed.

Marists communities in Vietnam, located in the southern part of the country, were fortunate to escape the direct impact of Typhoon Yagi. However, they are deeply saddened by the devastation it caused in the northern provinces. To express Marist solidarity, each community in Vietnam was invited to contribute to the Caritas of the Diocese of Saigon and Jesuit Social Service. Several other communities in the Marist District of Asia (MDA) were also concerned about the situation in Vietnam. Not only did they offer prayers, but they also provided financial support. All the donations were gathered and sent to Caritas Saigon and Jesuit Social Service, who will distribute the funds to those in need on Marist behalf.

Here you can read more about it, as testify by Brother Nguyen Viet Bao:

“Amidst this tragedy, the Vietnamese people in the whole nation have come together in solidarity. The nation has witnessed an outpouring of support from all corners, as people from across the country have rallied to aid the victims. The generosity of individuals and organizations has been overwhelming. Hundreds of groups have sent donations, both in kind and in money, to support the affected areas. As of today, the government have received a total amount of 1.236 billion VND internally.
In Bac Ninh diocese alone, countless tons of relief goods have been delivered and distributed. These past few days, I’ve been in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Thai Nguyen provinces, I see people are returning back to their normal activities after the disaster. While life is gradually returning to normal, with schools reopening and businesses resuming operations, the recovery process in mountainous provinces like Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Cao Bang is far from over, the struggle continues, especially for those who have lost loved ones. People are coming together to clean up their communities and search for missing loved ones after the typhoon and flood. As the people moves forward to recovery, the support and solidarity will be crucial in helping the affected people getting back their life from this devastating natural disaster.”