Typhoon Bualoi hits Vietnam: Two dead, 17 missing

Typhoon Bualoi struck Vietnam’s northern central coastline on September 29, resulting in two confirmed deaths and leaving 17 people missing. The storm caused significant damage to homes and power infrastructure while bringing heavy rains and flooding before weakening as it moved toward Laos.

The national weather agency reported that Bualoi made landfall early on September 29 with maximum sustained winds of 117 kph, weakening to 88 kph by 8 a.m. local time as it passed over Nghe An province. Along the coast, waves reached heights of up to eight meters, causing dangerous conditions, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

In preparation for the storm, Vietnamese authorities evacuated more than 28,500 residents from vulnerable areas. Air travel was also heavily disrupted, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed and four airports in central provinces temporarily closed.

Bualoi has triggered heavy rainfall across much of Vietnam since September 27, raising concerns over severe flooding and landslides. The national weather agency warned that some regions could receive up to 500 millimeters of rain from the night of September 28 through Septemebr 30.

Vietnam, with its extensive coastline along the South China Sea, frequently faces typhoons that develop east of the Philippines. Last week, Bualoi caused at least 10 deaths in the Philippines before moving toward Vietnam.

By Sabina Mammadli