Typhoon Bualoi made a devastating impact on Vietnam’s central coast this Monday, with official reports confirming at least 12 fatalities and 21 individuals still unaccounted for. The same storm initiated its destructive path over the weekend in the Philippines, where it tragically took at least 10 lives.
The typhoon hit land late Sunday evening, around 11 p.m. local time, bringing ferocious winds between 73 and 83 miles per hour, as reported by local media citing national weather agencies. By Monday, Vietnam ramped up its disaster relief operations, though rescue teams faced immense challenges reaching areas cut off by severe landslides and sudden flash floods. As Bualoi tracked westward into Laos, persistent heavy rainfall continued to dangerously elevate water levels in regional hydropower reservoirs, heightening fears of further destruction.
Local weather forecaster Huy Nguyen described Bualoi as ‘one of the strongest typhoons to impact these areas in the past two decades.’ He emphasized that ‘its extensive damage was exacerbated by its prolonged presence inland, remaining for six to eleven hours after its initial landfall.’
With wind gusts surpassing 90 miles per hour, Typhoon Bualoi relentlessly swept along the Vietnamese coastline, battering a significant portion of central Vietnam. This area was already struggling to recover from the widespread destruction left by Typhoon Kajiki just a month prior.
The rapid succession of these powerful storms has tragically left virtually no window for communities to recuperate.
Tran Thi Ha, a 40-year-old resident of Ha Tinh Province, shared her distress: ‘The last typhoon completely ruined my home; the roof was torn off. I had just managed to repair it with borrowed money. Now, this latest typhoon has devastated my home all over again.’
Bualoi’s impact resonated far beyond its direct path. Even in Ninh Binh Province, located about 124 miles from the storm’s core, intense thunderstorms triggered building collapses and resulted in nine fatalities. In Ha Tinh Province, which bore the brunt of the typhoon’s eye, extensive power outages were reported across wide areas, according to state media.
Tran Huu Khanh, Deputy Director of the Ha Tinh Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated, ‘We anticipate more rainfall.’ He added, ‘We are actively deploying all available resources to prepare for and mitigate the escalating risks of flash floods and landslides.’
As a crucial precautionary step, Vietnamese authorities successfully evacuated tens of thousands of residents throughout the weekend, ahead of Bualoi’s destructive arrival.
Dr. Huy issued a stern warning: ‘The typhoon continues to unleash heavy rains over Laos and the border areas adjacent to Vietnam.’ He concluded, ‘The full extent of this typhoon’s impact and its dangers are still unfolding.’