Vietnam’s government says 19 people have been confirmed dead and 21 others remain missing following Typhoon Bualoi, the country’s most devastating storm this year.
The typhoon made landfall on Monday in north-central Vietnam, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and dangerous sea swells that heightened the risk of floods and landslides in the northern regions.
Bualoi had earlier swept through the Philippines last week, leaving at least 10 people dead before moving toward Vietnam.
The government said “88 people had also been injured, more than 100,000 houses were damaged, mostly in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, and more than 10,000 hectares of rice and crops had been inundated.”
“Rainfall in several parts of Vietnam had exceeded 300 millimetres over the past 24 hours,” the National Weather Agency said.
“Heavy rains would continue, including in the capital Hanoi, and strong winds and lightning were also possible,” it said.
“Landslides and flash floods are likely to happen in several areas over the next six hours,” the Agency said.
As of Tuesday, several villages in northern central Vietnam remained flooded with no traffic or power, state media reported.
With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that often also bring heavy rains that cause severe flooding.
Reuters/Hauwa M.