Typhoon Bualoi made a devastating landfall on Vietnam’s central coast this Monday, with state media confirming at least 12 fatalities and 21 individuals still unaccounted for. Its destructive journey began over the weekend, initially striking the Philippines where it claimed at least 10 lives.
The typhoon struck land late Sunday evening, bringing sustained winds of 73 to 83 miles per hour, as reported by local media and the national weather service. By Monday, Vietnam significantly ramped up its relief operations, facing immense challenges as landslides and severe flash floods cut off numerous communities. The storm’s westward progression towards Laos meant continued heavy rainfall, dangerously elevating water levels in regional hydropower reservoirs and posing a threat of further catastrophic flooding.
According to local weather forecaster Huy Nguyen, this typhoon ranks among the most powerful to impact these regions in the past two decades. He explained that its prolonged presence inland, lasting between six and eleven hours post-landfall, contributed significantly to the extensive devastation observed.
With wind gusts surpassing 90 miles per hour, Bualoi tracked along the coast, delivering a brutal blow to a vast stretch of central Vietnam. This area had barely begun to recover from the widespread damage inflicted by Typhoon Kajiki just a month prior, amplifying the current crisis.
The relentless succession of these powerful storms has tragically left residents with virtually no opportunity for recovery.
Tran Thi Ha, a 40-year-old resident of Ha Tinh Province, shared her despair: “My home was destroyed by the last typhoon; the roof was completely gone. I had just managed to repair it with loans, and now this typhoon has damaged it all over again.”
Bualoi’s destructive reach extended far beyond its immediate path. Even in Ninh Binh Province, located about 124 miles from the storm’s core, violent thunderstorms led to collapsed homes and nine reported deaths. Meanwhile, Ha Tinh Province, directly in the typhoon’s eye, experienced widespread power outages across massive areas, as confirmed by state media.
Tran Huu Khanh, the deputy director of the Ha Tinh Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated, “We anticipate continued rainfall. Our teams are actively mobilizing all available resources to address the heightened risks of flash floods and landslides.”
In a proactive move, Vietnamese authorities had evacuated tens of thousands of residents over the weekend, ahead of Bualoi’s anticipated arrival, in an effort to minimize casualties.
Dr. Huy issued a stark warning, emphasizing that “the typhoon continues to bring heavy rain to Laos and the border areas with Vietnam. The full impact and danger of this typhoon are still unfolding.”