Starting at 3 p.m. on 25/8, Typhoon Kajiki made landfall in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces, paralyzing the power grid. By 6 p.m., Nghe An province reported 1,692 downed power poles, accounting for 63% of the total damage. Downed poles littered the streets, some falling onto houses. Photo: Duc Hung

Starting at 3 p.m. on 25/8, Typhoon Kajiki made landfall in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces, paralyzing the power grid. By 6 p.m., Nghe An province reported 1,692 downed power poles, accounting for 63% of the total damage. Downed poles littered the streets, some falling onto houses. Photo: Duc Hung

This morning, power lines sagged dangerously low across many streets of Vinh City, posing a traffic hazard. Photo: Duc Hung

This morning, power lines sagged dangerously low across many streets of Vinh City, posing a traffic hazard. Photo: Duc Hung

Power crews are working to restore service in Vinh City. By 3 p.m., power had been restored to some areas. Photo: Duc Hung

In some narrow alleys, fallen trees and power poles completely blocked access. Residents had to use knives to cut branches to get out.

According to the electricity sector, 870,000 customers in Nghe An province have been without power since yesterday. "The food in my refrigerator spoiled, and we have no running water because the pump doesn't work. My family has been eating dry food and uncooked instant noodles due to the power outage," said Tam, a resident of Truong Vinh ward. Photo: Duc Hung

Along the coastal road through Co Dam commune, fallen power poles blocked more than half of the 8-meter-wide road, with wires dangling at a height of about 2 meters, creating a traffic hazard. Cars and motorbikes had to slow down and swerve to avoid them. Photo: Duc Hung

Power crews are working to restore service in Vinh City. By 3 p.m., power had been restored to some areas. Photo: Duc Hung

On Highway 1 through Nghi Xuan commune, four fallen power poles blocked half of the 12-meter-wide road, causing traffic jams. Photo: Duc Hung

Typhoon Kajiki hit Ha Tinh province in the late afternoon of 25/8, damaging numerous medium and low-voltage power lines and substations. Fallen trees blocked lines, causing prolonged outages in many areas.

This morning, in Loc Ha commune, many medium-voltage power poles along the road were snapped by the typhoon's strong winds. Power lines were also downed, lying across the road. Photo: Nguyen Dong

In the coastal communes of Nghi Xuan district, numerous low-voltage power poles were also downed, bringing down power and telecommunication lines. The poles were covered with corrugated iron sheets blown off houses by the wind. Photo: Duc Hung

Along the coastal road through Co Dam commune, fallen power poles blocked more than half of the 8-meter-wide road, with wires dangling at a height of about 2 meters, creating a traffic hazard. Cars and motorbikes had to slow down and swerve to avoid them. Photo: Duc Hung

A medium-voltage power pole snapped in half. According to reports, Typhoon Kajiki downed 761 power poles in Ha Tinh, leaving nearly 350,000 customers without power. Photo: Duc Hung

On Highway 1 through Nghi Xuan commune, four fallen power poles blocked half of the 12-meter-wide road, causing traffic jams. Photo: Duc Hung

Many power poles in the coastal area of Thien Cam were downed, causing widespread power outages from noon on 25/8 to the afternoon of 26/8. Power has not yet been restored. Photo: Nguyen Dong

In the coastal communes of Nghi Xuan district, numerous low-voltage power poles were also downed, bringing down power and telecommunication lines. The poles were covered with corrugated iron sheets blown off houses by the wind. Photo: Duc Hung

While mobile phone towers were largely spared damage from Typhoon Kajiki, power outages disrupted communications. By noon on 26/8, Vinaphone service had been restored in the Thien Cam area, but Mobifone's 4G network remained unavailable. Photo: Nguyen Dong

A medium-voltage power pole snapped in half. According to reports, Typhoon Kajiki downed 761 power poles in Ha Tinh, leaving nearly 350,000 customers without power. Photo: Duc Hung

Many power poles in the coastal area of Thien Cam were downed, causing widespread power outages from noon on 25/8 to the afternoon of 26/8. Power has not yet been restored. Photo: Nguyen Dong

While mobile phone towers were largely spared damage from Typhoon Kajiki, power outages disrupted communications. By noon on 26/8, Vinaphone service had been restored in the Thien Cam area, but Mobifone's 4G network remained unavailable. Photo: Nguyen Dong

On the night of 25/8, Ha Tinh Power Company mobilized all its personnel to address the damage caused by the typhoon. By 2 a.m. on 26/8, power had been restored to about 90% of customers in the center of Thanh Sen ward and key government offices, including the provincial Party Committee and People's Committee. Photo: Duc Hung

However, over 1.5 million customers across northern and north-central Vietnam remain without power. This is due to unresolved issues with the 500 KV power grid, along with over 2,650 downed power poles, concentrated in Nghe An (1,692), Ha Tinh (761), Thanh Hoa (114), and Ninh Binh (51). Additionally, 48,180 meters of power lines were downed.

The Hope Foundation, in collaboration with VnExpress newspaper, has launched a campaign to help schools recover from the typhoon damage. You can donate here.

Duc Hung - Nguyen Dong