Typhoon Bualoi batters Vietnam, leaves eight dead and dozens missing

Typhoon Bualoi slammed into Vietnam’s northern central coast on 29 September 2025, leaving at least eight people dead and 17 others missing, according to Reuters. 

The storm brought heavy rain and powerful winds that damaged homes, cut power, and flooded roads before weakening as it moved toward Laos.

Authorities said most of the missing were fishermen whose boats were struck by towering waves off Quang Tri province. 

In Ninh Binh, strong winds killed eight and injured seven more, while separate fatalities were reported in Hue city and Thanh Hoa province.

Residents described a harrowing night as winds howled and power went out.

One witness told Reuters he had seen many storms, but this was among the strongest.

By late morning, the storm’s maximum winds had dropped to 74 kph (46 mph), down from 117 kph at landfall. 

Official reports noted more than 245 houses damaged, nearly 1,400 hectares of crops inundated, and several areas cut off. 

No significant damage was reported to major industrial sites along the storm’s path.

Ahead of Bualoi’s landfall, authorities evacuated more than 28,500 people, closed four airports in central provinces, and cancelled or delayed hundreds of flights. 

The typhoon also triggered heavy rains across much of Vietnam, with forecasters warning of severe floods and landslides, and rainfall expected to reach up to 500 millimetres in some areas through Tuesday.

Vietnam frequently faces destructive typhoons due to its long South China Sea coastline. 

Just days earlier, Bualoi killed at least 10 people in the Philippines before sweeping west.