The local authorities have reported rising casualties and extensive damage after the storm tore through the country this week
Over 50 people have been killed by Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam, with 14 missing and 164 injured, the authorities have reported. The storm caused severe destruction across central provinces this week, damaging more than 230,000 houses and submerging farmland.
Government figures released on Friday have estimated the economic cost at 15.9 trillion dong ($603 million) with officials saying the situation is evolving. Nearly 89,000 hectares of rice and other crops have been destroyed and tens of thousands of households remain without power.
Bualoi made landfall earlier this week in the north-central region, striking Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces with winds of up to 133kph and waves reaching 8 meters. The storm forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in coastal and low-lying areas. Four airports were closed, and both air and rail services were suspended.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said flooding and landslides triggered by the typhoon have devastated infrastructure, including roads, schools, and government offices. Relief workers continue to search for survivors in mountainous areas where access is difficult. State media reports that some communities remain cut off.
Vietnam’s central bank has instructed lenders to restructure or freeze loans for businesses affected by the storm. Officials say financial support will be provided to households whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed. International organizations have expressed readiness to assist if requested, though the government has not yet sought outside aid.
Bualoi has also affected neighboring countries, with seven people reported dead and thousands affected in Thailand. At least 11 people have also been killed by the typhoon in the Philippines.
In Vietnam, the government has mobilized thousands of soldiers, police, and volunteers to assist with relief and recovery. The authorities have warned that further rains could bring additional flooding as rivers remain swollen.
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The typhoon is among the strongest to hit Vietnam in recent years, striking during a storm season that often brings several major weather events to the region.
