Typhoon Bualoi devastates Vietnam: 51 dead, 14 missing, $608M loss

Hanoi (The Uttam Hindu): Typhoon Bualoi and the subsequent floods and landslides have caused massive devastation in Vietnam. The death toll due to Typhoon Bualoi has reached 51. 14 people are still missing, while 164 people were injured. The Vietnam Disaster and Dike Management Authority shared a report related to the disaster on Friday. According to it, Typhoon Bualoi and the subsequent floods and landslides have killed 51 people in northern and central Vietnam, 14 others are missing, and 164 people were injured. The initial economic loss is estimated to be around 15.9 trillion Vietnamese Dong (about 608 million US dollars).

The storm damaged or submerged more than 238,000 homes, and nearly 89,000 hectares of rice and other crops were destroyed. Furthermore, more than 17,000 hectares of aquaculture and approximately 50,300 hectares of forests were damaged. According to reports, the storm also severely damaged infrastructure, with more than 8,800 power poles downed and approximately 468,500 homes still without power. Nearly 1,500 schools were also damaged. Local authorities are continuing relief operations, clearing damaged roads, restoring essential services, and mobilizing equipment to assist affected communities.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Friday that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday approved an emergency relief package for 15 affected areas. Previously, on September 30, he had directed local authorities and departments to provide immediate assistance to affected residents and those affected.

The Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, Party organizations, the administration, and the residents suffering losses and hardships caused by the disaster. He ordered the Chairmen of the People's Committees to mobilize troops and vehicles to reach isolated areas as soon as possible, repair damaged homes, and arrange shelters for affected residents. He also directed that damaged educational and medical facilities be repaired before October 5th.

Many parts of Vietnam received more than 300 millimeters of rain. Villages in northern central Vietnam were submerged, and traffic and power were cut off. Bualoi was the second major typhoon to threaten Asia in a week. One of the strongest storms in years, Typhoon Ragasa killed at least 28 people in the northern Philippines and Taiwan before making landfall in China and dissipating in Vietnam.