Super Typhoon Yagi continues deadly path across Asia as it hits Thailand

Thailand deployed military special forces to Chiang Rai province after severe flooding, caused by Typhoon Yagi, left thousands stranded. The storm has killed at least nine people in the past week, bringing fatalities from rain-related incidents including landslides across the nation to 33 since mid-August.

What’s being done: Authorities have issued flash flood warnings for 36 provinces, including Bangkok. Rescue operations using boats and helicopters, supported by Thai Navy SEALs, are underway to reach those trapped in flood-hit areas. Floodwaters have begun receding in some parts, but many riverside settlements remain submerged. Over 3,000 people are stranded in the Ban Kwai Wua Dam area, and flights have been canceled due to impassable roads.
The big picture: Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, previously struck Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, China and the Philippines, triggering landslides and flooding. Vietnam has been the hardest hit, with 197 fatalities. In Myanmar, 17 people have died, and over 50,000 have been displaced. Yagi also claimed at least 20 lives in the Philippines and four in southern China, where millions have been displaced. While Southeast Asia experiences heavy monsoon rains annually, experts warn that human-driven climate change is intensifying weather patterns and typhoons, heightening the risk of destructive floods.

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