Typhoon Bualoi struck Vietnam’s northern central coast on Monday (29 September), killing at least 13 people and injuring 46, according to government reports. The storm brought strong winds and heavy rains that damaged homes, snapped power lines, and flooded roads. Waves as high as 8 meters (26 feet) battered coastal areas, and several fishermen went missing after their boats were swept away off Quang Tri province. Residents spent the night trying to protect their homes amid power outages and fierce winds.
The government had evacuated over 28,500 people before the typhoon made landfall, and hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled due to airport closures in central provinces. In Ninh Binh province, nine people died and seven were injured from strong winds, while other fatalities occurred from floodwaters in Hue and falling trees in Thanh Hoa. Local residents described Bualoi as one of the strongest storms they had experienced.
The cyclone damaged more than 44,000 homes and inundated nearly 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) of rice and other crops, cutting access to several areas. Authorities reported no major damage to industrial properties, including large factories owned by Foxconn, Formosa Plastics, Luxshare, and Vinfast. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed defense and public security forces to assist in relief and recovery efforts.
Heavy rainfall, forecasted at up to 500 mm (20 inches) in some areas, has prompted warnings of severe floods and landslides across multiple provinces. Water levels in rivers and reservoirs in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Thanh Hoa rose to dangerous levels, leaving tens of thousands of families affected by flooding and power blackouts. Vietnam’s long coastline along the South China Sea makes it particularly vulnerable to typhoons, and Bualoi follows another deadly storm that hit the Philippines last week.
References
Vietnam Battles Deadly Typhoon Bualoi as Homes Flood and Power Cuts Spread
