First images from the eye of storm Cat Ba: Destruction, desolation to the point of heartbreak

The road from Cai Vieng ferry to Cat Ba town center is a scene of devastation, hundreds of houses have had their roofs blown off and windows collapsed.

Cat Ba town is one of the most affected and damaged areas in Hai Phong after storm number 3 (storm Yagi). Up to now, this town has not been supplied with electricity, water, or telecommunications network.

Previously, to ensure the safety of the people, Hai Phong City had banned the sea before the storm hit. Therefore, in the past few days, Cat Ba Island has been "isolated".

By the afternoon of September 9, the ferry carrying passengers from Cat Hai district to Cat Ba town was back in operation to serve people going to the island. Tuoi Tre reporters were present early on the first ferry to the island after the ferry resumed operation.

According to our records, the streets in the town center are still in disarray, and people are actively cleaning up after the storm.

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online reporter, Mr. Minh (51 years old, living in Cat Ba town) seemed to still not recover: "After the storm, when we went out on the street, it looked no different than a town that had just been bombed. It was terrible. I have never witnessed a storm with such strong winds in my life."

“After two days of the storm, people are cleaning up but things are still very messy. After this storm, some families lost hundreds of millions of dong due to property damage,” said Mr. Minh.

According to Mr. Minh, before storm No. 3 hit, the town lost electricity, water, telecommunications, etc., but they have not been restored yet. The storm's winds not only tore off roofs, damaged property, and knocked down trees, but many tourist areas and markets were also severely damaged.

From the coastal road to town, there was a scene of trees being uprooted by the storm, falling down, and withered, not recognizing the usual green color of Cat Ba Island.

On the same afternoon, Tuoi Tre Online reporters noted that people, local authorities and agencies and units located in Cat Ba town were focusing on cleaning up the rubble after the storm.

Previously, due to the influence of storm No. 3 in Hai Phong, Bach Long Vi island had strong winds of level 13, gusting to level 15; in Phu Lien strong winds of level 11, gusting to level 15; in Cat Hai strong winds of level 11, gusting to level 14.

According to Tuoi Tre Online reporters, Cat Ba town is the tourism and fishing logistics service center of Cat Hai district and Hai Phong city. Cat Ba town has a natural area of about 335.93 hectares (3.36 ^km2 ), including 19 residential groups, with more than 12,740 people (May 2023). Notably, this town welcomes a large number of domestic and international tourists every year.

Restaurants, hotels, luxury resorts on Cat Ba island's coast... were almost all torn apart by the storm.

Những hình ảnh đầu tiên từ tâm bão Cát Bà: Đổ nát, hoang tàn đến đau lòng - Ảnh 14. — The welcome gate area was also destroyed by waves and wind.

Những hình ảnh đầu tiên từ tâm bão Cát Bà: Đổ nát, hoang tàn đến đau lòng - Ảnh 15. — People clean up after the storm

Cảnh đổ nát, tan hoang từ ‘tâm bão’ thị trấn Cát Bà - Ảnh 16. — Hundreds of vehicles were damaged by fallen trees on all roads on Cat Ba Island.

Những hình ảnh đầu tiên từ tâm bão Cát Bà: Đổ nát, hoang tàn đến đau lòng - Ảnh 17. — Currently, Cat Ba Island still has no electricity, telecommunications network, or clean water. In the photo: People go to buy generators to serve life on the island.

Forces such as soldiers, electricity workers, and environmental sanitation workers rushed to clean up and handle incidents.

Những hình ảnh đầu tiên từ tâm bão Cát Bà: Đổ nát, hoang tàn đến đau lòng - Ảnh 1. — On the afternoon of September 9, Cat Ba ferry resumed operation and is free for all people to travel.

The damage cannot be accurately assessed yet.

According to the Hai Phong City Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense, as of 12:00 on September 8, the damage caused by storm No. 3 was very large and could not be accurately and specifically assessed or counted.

According to initial statistics, in Cat Hai district, 2 people were injured, 148 houses had their roofs blown off, and many public works and schools had their roofs blown off and their fences collapsed.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-hinh-anh-dau-tien-tu-tam-bao-cat-ba-do-nat-hoang-tan-den-dau-long-20240909185221521.htm#content-9