In a tragic turn of events, a flash flood has engulfed an entire hamlet in northern Vietnam, claiming the lives of 30 people and leaving dozens more missing. The death toll from the combination of Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath has now climbed to 155, with an additional 141 people still unaccounted for and hundreds injured.

The devastating flash flood occurred in Lang Nu hamlet, situated in Lao Cai province, when a torrent of water surged down from a nearby mountain, burying the village under a thick layer of mud and debris. Out of the 35 families residing in Lang Nu, only a few fortunate individuals have been identified as survivors so far.

Rescue workers are tirelessly combing through the wreckage in hopes of finding the approximately 65 missing individuals. Thus far, they have recovered 30 bodies, while the search for the remaining victims continues. Lao Cai province, which borders China and is known for the popular trekking destination of Sapa, has seen the most casualties, as floods and landslides ravaged the region.

The severe weather conditions have also had a severe impact on local tourism, which serves as a crucial economic driver for the area. Many roads have been blocked due to landslides and unrelenting rainfall, resulting in the suspension of all trekking activities. Van A Po, a Sapa tour guide, expressed his fear, stating, "It is very scary."

Nguyen Van Luong, who works in a hotel, found himself stranded due to the dangerous conditions on the road connecting Sapa to his village. With the road badly damaged and the constant threat of landslides, Luong decided to heed his family's advice and stay in the city until it is safer to return home.

Earlier this week, another tragic incident shook the region when a bridge collapsed and a bus was swept away by floods, leading to the loss of several lives. The collapse of a steel bridge in Phu Tho province caused multiple vehicles to plunge into the Red River, while a landslide in mountainous Cao Bang province swept a bus with 20 passengers into a flooded stream.

Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful typhoon to hit Vietnam in decades, made landfall on Saturday, accompanied by winds reaching speeds of up to 149 kph (92 mph). Despite weakening on Sunday, heavy rainfall persisted, keeping rivers at dangerous levels and causing further damage to factories situated in the country's key industrial hubs.

Scientists have emphasized the role of climate change in intensifying storms like Typhoon Yagi. Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, warns that warmer ocean waters provide more energy to fuel these storms, leading to increased wind speeds and heavier rainfall.

As the search and rescue efforts continue in Vietnam, the nation mourns the loss of lives and grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic natural disaster.