Typhoon Bualoi caused widespread damage in Vietnam and the Philippines. For those on the ground in Vietnam, the death toll has already exceeded 50. According to reports, the storm has already left at least 51 dead in Vietnam. 37 people died during that same time in the Philippines. In addition to the deaths and devastation, the typhoon has driven about 400,000 people from their homes as floodwaters surging through the area have displaced residents.
The storm slammed into central Vietnam with violent winds of 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour. With an extremely small diameter, it remained over land for nearly 12 hours, bringing catastrophic effects. The prolonged rainfall led to heavy flood in the capital city of Hanoi. Dangerous floods and landslides followed from this record amount of rainfall in seven counties. The flood brought a devastating loss of property, damage to infrastructure, and destruction of farmland only adding to the suffering of already stricken communities.
Losses in the Philippines
Typhoon Bualoi caused severe damage after it passed through the Philippines en route to Vietnam. Officials stated that the storm resulted in at least 37 deaths. On top of that, they moved nearly 400,000 people out of their communities. The Philippines is legally endowed with a culture of resilience against typhoons. Despite the overall positive outcomes, the intensity of Bualoi posed huge challenges to supporting disaster response agencies at the local level.
Emergency services were pushed to their limits, but they worked tirelessly to deliver aid to those displaced. The government mobilized resources to facilitate relief efforts, ensuring that food, water, and shelter were available to those affected by the storm’s aftermath. The double whammy of intense rainfall and wind damage put such a strain on local infrastructure that recovery efforts have been even more challenging.
Devastation in Vietnam
As Typhoon Bualoi moved from Japan to Vietnam, seen here over the East China Sea, it produced a swath of devastation along its path. The ministry reiterated that at least 51 people have perished during these protests. They said that 14 additional people remain unaccounted for. The storm not only had a profound impact on human lives, but wreaked havoc on critical infrastructure. It fundamentally changed long-established transportation and communication networks.
The flooding primarily impacted central, eastern, and northern provinces, causing devastation to agricultural production as farmland was turned to water. The Vietnamese government had immediate challenges in terms of providing for the needs of those displaced and restoring services to areas impacted by the storm. Coming back will require deep pockets—in many ways, more than ever before. In the first few months of the fiscal year, recent storms have already caused $371 million in damages.
Ongoing Threats from Typhoon Matmo
Adding to worries in the region, Typhoon Matmo is forecast to be on the doorstep of the northern Philippines early next week. Should this storm reach land, it will be the 11th typhoon to hit Vietnam this year. Bualoi was the 10th just a week ago. Vietnam usually braves about 10 storms annually. This year’s storms are coming faster and with greater ferocity, shocking public officials and citizens alike.
As communities are still getting back on their feet after Bualoi’s destructive path, the arrival of Matmo seems bent on stacking even more danger. Local jurisdictions are still digging themselves out after having essentially set up a triage tent with evacuations and disaster response planned at any moment.