Storm Bualoi weakens as cleanup, rescue efforts intensify in Vietnam

The storm is forecast to continue moving west-northwest at a speed of 20–25 km/h, downgrading to a tropical depression and then further dissipating into a low-pressure zone over upper Laos on Monday afternoon.

In the aftermath of the storm, dozens of police officers in Cua Lo Ward in Nghe An Province, joined immediate cleanup activities.

Equipment was mobilized to clear fallen trees from the streets.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thi Thu Thuy, chief of the ward’s police agency, reported that her unit maintained 100-percent readiness throughout the storm, forming seven teams to assist residents with evacuation and ensure public safety.

“The storm has passed, but many trees have been uprooted. We’re mobilizing all officers to clear them and restore traffic,” she said.

In former Vinh City, residents inspecting damage found vehicles crushed under fallen walls and roofs.

At a parking lot in Thanh Vinh Ward, strong winds caused an old wall to collapse onto several parked cars.

“The wind was fierce last night, but I never imagined the wall would fall on my car,” said Hoai Nam, one of the affected vehicle owners.

Learning from storm No. 5, many residents had moved their vehicles to open fields, stadiums, and areas far from trees or structures to avoid damage.

Landslides and fatalities

The People's Committee of Tuong Duong Commune in Nghe An Province said that three landslides occurred along National Highway 7 at around 9:00 am, disrupting traffic.

The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority reported two fatalities as of 8:00 am on Monday due to the storm and associated flooding.

One victim in Hue City, central Vietnam drowned after slipping and being swept away on the night of September 27.

Another death in Thanh Hoa Province was caused by a fallen tree.

Due to Bualoi’s lingering effects, heavy rainfall is expected across several northern and central provinces until Tuesday.

Rainfall totals are projected at 100-200 mm in areas from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh Provinces, and the northern region, with some areas exceeding 350 mm.

According to a preliminary report from the Ninh Binh Province Civil Defense Command, as of 10:00 am on Monday, a tornado had left nine people dead, 18 injured, 11 single-story houses collapsing, and 126 houses with roofs blown off.

Rescue operations amid widespread destruction

In Thanh Hoa Province, rescuers saved four individuals trapped in a collapsed home in Hoang Phu Commune early on Monday morning.

At 4:30 am, strong winds brought down the roof of a residence near Phu Khe Bridge.

Amid the intense rain and wind, the victims, two adults and two children, were safely extricated by the provincial fire and rescue police.

Hoang Phu Commune suffered extensive damage, with dozens of homes losing roofs or collapsing entirely.

Fallen trees and electrical poles disrupted power supply and obstructed railway lines.

Local police and militia are working to restore essential services.

Quang Tri suffers devastation

In Phu Trach Commune under Quang Tri Province, the storm left a scene of devastation as it passed through before dawn on Monday.

Concrete power poles were snapped in half, and numerous houses lost their roofs.

A section of National Highway 1 across the commune was littered with fallen road signs and debris.

Traffic police and local residents worked side by side to clear the road.

Many homes were severely damaged, with elderly residents like 71-year-old Trinh Thi Le narrowly escaping harm.

“The storm raged all night. The wind ripped the tiles off my roof and flung them everywhere. I had to run to a neighbor’s house in the dark to stay safe,” Le recalled.

Additional rescues in Nghe An

In Nghe An Province, emergency services responded to two separate incidents where eight residents were trapped due to structural collapses.

At 2:55 am on Monday, fire and rescue teams rushed to a home on Nguyen Phong Sac Street in Truong Vinh Ward to save four people trapped in the house that had lost its roof.

One of the victims was injured.

All were rescued by 4:05 am, and the injured individual was taken to the hospital.

The second incident occurred at 4:03 am the same day at Gate 3 of WHA IZNA Company in Trung Loc Commune.

Four individuals were trapped under debris after roofing and structural components collapsed.

They were rescued safely at 4:50 am and brought to a local rescue unit for medical evaluation and recovery.