HANOI: Typhoon Bualoi slammed into Vietnam’s northern central coastline on Monday, unleashing winds of up to 117kph (73mph) and waves as high as eight metres, according to the national weather agency, Reuters reported.
The storm killed at least eight people, left 17 missing, and caused widespread flooding and destruction before weakening as it moved into Laos.
Seventeen fishermen were reported missing after massive waves struck two boats off Quang Tri province, while another vessel lost contact during the storm, the government’s disaster management agency said. Strong winds killed eight people and injured seven others in Ninh Binh province, while separate incidents claimed lives in Hue and Thanh Hoa.
Damage, evacuations and ongoing risks
Bualoi damaged more than 245 houses, inundated nearly 1,400 hectares of rice fields and crops, and disrupted electricity and transport across central Vietnam. By late morning, the storm had weakened to maximum winds of 74kph (46mph) as it moved over Nghe An province towards Laos.
Authorities evacuated more than 28,500 people ahead of landfall, while hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed due to the closure of four airports. The government has warned of severe flooding and landslides, with rainfall expected to reach up to 500mm in several areas by Tuesday.
Vietnam, with its long South China Sea coastline, is highly vulnerable to typhoons. Bualoi had earlier struck the Philippines, where at least 10 people were killed.
