Typhoon Bualoi brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing extensive damage in central Vietnam and claiming at least 12 lives before moving into Laos as a tropical storm, as reported by state media on Monday.
The storm wreaked havoc on communities, resulting in damaged infrastructure, including houses, schools, and power lines. Temporary bridges were swept away, roads and low-water crossings were flooded, and urban areas faced vehicle submersion while highland communities became isolated.
Rescue teams were deployed to search for 17 fishermen who were reported missing, according to state media.
By midmorning, the storm’s center was situated near the Nghe An province border and Laos, with wind speeds reaching 74 km/h. Later in the day, it advanced further into Laos, weakening to a tropical depression with winds ranging from 39 to 61 km/h, as indicated by the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Prior to landfall, Vietnamese authorities enforced safety measures by grounding fishing boats and halting operations at four coastal airports. Tragically, nine fatalities occurred in Ninh Binh province due to the collapse of houses caused by strong winds.
In Thanh Hoa province, a local official named Nguyen Ngoc Hung lost his life when a tree fell on him during storm preparations. Reports also confirmed one fatality in Hue City from floodwaters and another in Danang.
Cleanup efforts were underway in the Vietnamese city of Ha Tinh on Monday after damaging winds from Typhoon Bualoi ripped through the area.
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In Quang Tri province, strong winds caused a fishing boat to drift after breaking its anchoring ropes, leaving nine crew members adrift. Four individuals managed to swim to safety. In Gia Lai province, eight fishermen were reported missing after losing contact during a fishing trip.
Before the typhoon made landfall, over 347,000 households experienced power outages. Corrugated iron roofs were ripped off homes along highways, and concrete pillars were toppled by strong gusts.
In Phong Nha, a region known for its extensive caves, residents described enduring “terrible gusts” of wind and heavy rain. According to state media VNExpress, locals refrained from venturing outdoors due to the severe conditions.
Vietnam conducted evacuations in central and northern provinces as the typhoon approached faster than anticipated. It made landfall in Ha Tinh
