Typhoon Bualoi Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction in Vietnam and Philippines

Typhoon Bualoi Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction in Vietnam and Philippines
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Typhoon Bualoi struck Vietnam’s northern central coast on Monday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 46, Reuters reported. The storm, which unleashed winds strong enough to generate waves up to eight meters high, damaged homes, disrupted power, and flooded roads before weakening into a tropical depression as it moved toward Laos. Several fishermen remain missing after their boats were swept away in Quang Tri province.

Authorities evacuated more than 15,000 residents in Ha Tinh province, while thousands of soldiers were placed on standby. Schools were closed and operations at four coastal airports, including Da Nang International, were suspended. Heavy rainfall has already triggered flooding in Hue and Quang Tri, with forecasters warning of landslides and river surges reaching nine meters.

The typhoon also wreaked havoc in the Philippines before crossing the South China Sea. Officials there confirmed 11 deaths, mostly on the islands of Biliran, Masbate, and Ticao, where widespread flooding, toppled trees, and collapsed structures forced 400,000 people to evacuate. Fourteen remain missing, while over 200,000 people are still in shelters. Vietnam and the Philippines, both highly exposed to tropical storms, are frequently hit by deadly typhoons. Scientists caution that climate change is likely making such storms more destructive.