Heavy rainfall and powerful winds brought by Typhoon Bualoi caused severe flooding and resulted in at least 12 fatalities in central Vietnam before weakening into a tropical storm and moving into Laos. The storm wreaked havoc in communities, damaging infrastructure such as houses, schools, and power lines, as well as causing the destruction of temporary bridges and extensive flooding in various provinces. The urban areas experienced vehicle submersion, while many highland communities were isolated.
State reports mentioned that rescue teams were actively searching for 17 missing fishermen. By midmorning, the storm’s center was situated near the Nghe An province and Laos border, with sustained winds reaching 74 km/h. Subsequently, as the storm moved deeper into Laos in the afternoon, it downgraded to a tropical depression, with wind speeds ranging between 39 to 61 km/h, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Prior to the storm’s landfall, Vietnamese authorities took precautionary measures by halting fishing activities and closing down four coastal airports. The majority of the recorded deaths, totaling nine, occurred in Ninh Binh province due to the collapse of houses caused by strong winds. Tragic incidents were reported, including the death of a local official in Thanh Hoa province from a falling tree and another individual swept away by floodwaters in Hue City. Additionally, a fatality was reported in Danang.
In Quang Tri province, the storm’s impact led to the drifting of a fishing boat after strong winds broke its anchoring ropes, leaving nine crew members adrift. Families in Gia Lai province also lost contact with eight fishermen who were on a fishing expedition. Over 347,000 households experienced power outages before the typhoon made landfall, resulting in severe damages to homes and infrastructure.
Residents in Phong Nha, a renowned area for its large caves, described experiencing powerful winds and heavy rainfall, leading to a state of fear and caution. Vietnam conducted evacuations in central and northern regions as the typhoon approached faster than anticipated, making landfall in Ha Tinh province with strong winds, storm surges exceeding a meter, and heavy precipitation.
Typhoon Bualoi had previously caused significant devastation in the Philippines, resulting in at least 20 deaths from various incidents such as drownings and falling trees. The storm also prompted evacuations of thousands of families to emergency shelters. This marked the second major storm to impact Asia within a week, following Typhoon Ragasa, which had devastating effects across several countries before dissipating over Vietnam.
Experts attribute the intensification of storms like Typhoon Bualoi to global warming, which leads to stronger and wetter tropical storms. The warmer ocean temperatures fuel these storms, resulting in more intense winds, heavier rainfall, and altered precipitation patterns across East Asia.