Typhoon Bualoi has brought devastation to central and northern Vietnam, resulting in at least 11 fatalities and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes, according to state media reports. The powerful storm made landfall late Sunday, unleashing torrential rains and fierce winds that flooded roads, washed away bridges, and ripped roofs off buildings before weakening as it moved into neighboring Laos. This latest disaster follows a trail of destruction left by Bualoi in the Philippines, where it claimed over 20 lives since Friday. The region has recently been battered by intense storms, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, the most formidable storm of 2025, which caused at least 28 deaths in the northern Philippines and Taiwan before impacting Hong Kong and China.
Upon making landfall in central Vietnam, Typhoon Bualoi was recorded with wind speeds of 117 km/h (73 mph). As it progressed into Laos, its intensity decreased, with maximum wind speeds reported at 74 km/h (46 mph), according to Vietnam’s weather agency as cited by Reuters. Rescue efforts are currently underway to find 17 fishermen who remain missing after their boats were caught in the storm’s massive waves. In preparation for the typhoon’s arrival, approximately 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Vietnam, local media reported. The severe weather also led to the delay or cancellation of dozens of flights over the weekend.
A resident from Nghe An province shared their harrowing experience, telling Reuters, “I stayed awake the whole night fearing the door would be pulled off by strong winds.” The central province of Ha Tinh experienced a widespread power outage due to downed power lines, and extensive crop fields were submerged by the relentless rainfall.
Forecasters predict that northern Vietnam could receive between 200-350mm of rain from Sunday through Tuesday, with some areas potentially experiencing up to 500mm. Authorities have issued urgent warnings for residents to remain indoors, and Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh has directed intensified rescue and relief operations, state media reported.
Typhoon Ragasa, which recently made landfall in southern China, necessitated the evacuation of nearly two million people. This storm, responsible for significant flooding and landslides, also caused 14 fatalities in Taiwan after a barrier lake breached. Including other tropical storms from September, the total death toll in the Philippines related to these events has reached 26.
Experts note that climate change is a contributing factor to the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like typhoons.