NGHE AN/HANOI, Sept 29- Typhoon Bualoi has left a trail of devastation across central Vietnam, with the official death toll climbing to at least eight lives lost and 17 people still unaccounted for. The storm, which roared ashore late Sunday, battered coastal provinces with violent winds exceeding 110 kilometres per hour, torrential rainfall, and towering waves that reached nearly eight metres in height.
The greatest tragedy has unfolded offshore, where fishing boats were overwhelmed by the storm. Two vessels capsized in Quảng Trị province, throwing entire crews into the churning waters, while a third boat suddenly lost contact with the mainland. Families waiting on the coast have been left in anguish as military search and rescue teams battle treacherous conditions in a desperate bid to find survivors.
Widespread Damage on Land
Onshore, the scale of destruction is staggering. Authorities estimate that more than 28,500 residents were evacuated before the typhoon’s arrival, but many returned to scenes of chaos. At least 245 homes were either flattened or severely damaged, their roofs ripped off and walls torn apart. Floodwaters have swallowed nearly 1,400 hectares of rice paddies and farmland, wiping out crops that entire families depend upon for income and food.
The storm also uprooted trees, blocked highways, and triggered landslides that cut off several villages. Emergency responders say access to some communities remains impossible, raising fears that the reported death toll could rise further as isolated areas are reached.
Transport and Power Disruptions
Vietnam’s already fragile infrastructure has been heavily disrupted. Four airports in central provinces were forced to close, grounding dozens of domestic and international flights. Electricity supply lines snapped in the gale-force winds, leaving thousands of households in the dark. Water supplies in some districts have also been compromised, raising concerns about sanitation in crowded evacuation shelters.
While Bualoi has now weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed into neighbouring Laos, its impact is far from over. Meteorologists warn of persistent heavy rainfall in Vietnam’s central highlands and border provinces over the coming days. The saturated ground heightens the risk of flash floods and deadly landslides, which could cause further casualties even after the storm’s centre has passed.
Authorities have cautioned that the storm system is expected to fully dissipate over mainland Southeast Asia by midweek. Until then, emergency agencies are on high alert, particularly in mountainous districts where communities are most vulnerable to sudden landslips.
Long Road to Recovery
Vietnam is no stranger to tropical storms during the monsoon season, but Bualoi’s ferocity has underscored the nation’s precarious position on the frontlines of climate vulnerability. Relief teams, including the army, Red Cross units, and local volunteers, are distributing food rations, medical supplies, and temporary shelter.
Yet for the thousands whose homes have been washed away and for fishermen who lost their boats and livelihoods, the journey to recovery will be measured not in days or weeks, but in months and possibly years. Officials warn that rebuilding lives and restoring infrastructure will require sustained national effort and international support.
For more global news and in-depth coverage, visit www.whitehorsedaily.com.
Leave a comment