Hanoi (TDI): Typhoon Bualoi made landfall on Vietnam’s northern central coast early Monday, bringing destructive winds, torrential rains, and towering waves. As of latest, the storm has claimed eight lives while 17 fishermen are missing.
The typhoon struck with wind speeds reaching up to 117 km/h (73 mph) and generated waves as high as eight meters, according to Vietnam’s national weather agency.
The hardest-hit areas include Quang Tri, Ninh Binh, Hue, and Thanh Hoa provinces. In Quang Tri, 17 fishermen are unaccounted for after two boats were capsized by massive waves. Another vessel also lost contact, raising fears for the crew’s safety.
In Ninh Binh city, strong winds caused damage to infrastructure. Residents in Nghe An province reported sleepless nights, fearing that the storm’s force would tear off doors and windows.
“I’ve witnessed many storms, and this is one of the strongest,” said Nguyen Tuan Vinh, a local resident.
In response to the impending disaster, Vietnamese authorities evacuated over 28,500 people from coastal areas and shut down four central airports, including Da Nang International Airport, grounding hundreds of flights. The government also mobilized thousands of troops for emergency response efforts.
Despite these precautions, the storm caused significant damage. 245 houses were destroyed, nearly 1,400 hectares of crops were flooded, and several roads blocked due to debris.
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As Bualoi weakened to a tropical depression with winds dropping to 74 km/h (46 mph), it moved inland toward Laos. However, authorities continue to warn of severe flooding and potential landslides, with rainfall projections reaching up to 500 mm through Tuesday.
This is the second major storm to impact the region in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Typhoon Yagi caused widespread devastation in Vietnam, resulting in over 300 deaths and significant infrastructure damage.
In August, Typhoon Kajiki made landfall on the country’s central coast while in July, Typhoon Wipha affected the northern parts, after claiming five lives in the Philippines.
The Vietnamese government is urging residents to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation orders as the country braces for the aftermath of Typhoon Bualoi.
In the Philippines, Bualoi had already caused at least 10 fatalities and widespread flooding before moving toward Vietnam.
This part of southeast Asia is usually prone to dozens storms each year, of varying intensity. Just last week, a Typhoon Ragsa, dubbed as the most powerful of the year, hit Philippines, Hong Kong, southern China and Taiwan – severely disrupting life.
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