Hanoi grapples with clearing 40,000 fallen trees one week after Yagi

A week after Typhoon Yagi struck Hanoi, the city continues to grapple with the aftermath, as nearly 40,000 uprooted trees remain scattered across streets, impeding daily life and traffic. The typhoon, which hit on September 7 with winds reaching up to 102 kph, caused widespread destruction, particularly in central areas where many trees were broken or uprooted.

By Friday, reports indicated over 40,000 fallen trees, with eight districts including Phu Xuyen, My Duc, and Long Bien yet to fully account for the damage. One of the most significant impacts is around Hoan Kiem Lake, a major tourist attraction, where a large flamboyant tree has blocked the pedestrian walkway, leaving the lakeside road inaccessible. Similarly, two ancient trees in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral on Nha Tho Street remain uprooted, although authorities have trimmed the branches and moved them to the sidewalk.

Of the fallen trees, over 13,600 were classified as urban trees planted along streets and public spaces. Around 10,589 of these were uprooted, while 3,069 had broken branches or trunks. The remaining 26,300 trees are managed by districts, state agencies, and private companies. Streets like Hang Dau have become difficult to navigate, with tourists forced to walk on the road due to blocked sidewalks.

Despite mobilizing additional forces, including help from the military and neighboring provinces, the scale of damage has overwhelmed cleanup efforts. Some areas, such as Thanh Nien Road, remain cluttered with uprooted trees, with public bicycles crushed under fallen trunks. Cleanup is being prioritized in central districts like Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem, and major roads such as Vo Nguyen Giap, which connects Hanoi to Hung Yen Province.

The city is also receiving assistance from tree pruning and removal teams from various regions across Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue. During a meeting on Friday morning, Hanoi's Deputy Chairman Duong Duc Tuan urged a thorough categorization of fallen trees to identify those that are ancient, replantable, or should be transplanted. He emphasized the importance of saving approximately 3,000 recoverable trees, including over 100 rare species.

So far, over 3,000 trees have been assessed for replanting, with 250 already re-erected, 2,600 pruned and awaiting replanting, and 232 yet to be pruned. On Phan Dinh Phung Street, a popular spot for autumn photography due to its canopy of giant trees, the cleanup has been completed, restoring its scenic beauty.

Deputy Chairman Tuan has set a deadline for the clearance of fallen trees to be completed by September 20. Afterward, the city will focus on restoring damaged infrastructure and repairing sidewalks where trees have been replanted.