Hanoi [Vietnam], September 30: Tropical Storm Bualoi has killed at least 12 people in Vietnam and left 17 fishermen missing, according to state media on Monday, citing emergency services.
The storm made landfall on Vietnam's central coast Sunday evening, unleashing hurricane-force winds, torrential rain and severe thunderstorms.
Bualoi came ashore north of the city of Vinh in Nghe An province. The former imperial capital of Hue, which is a major tourist draw thanks to its historic temples and pagodas, was also hit.
Authorities reported flooding, landslides and partial power outages. Four central airports, including Da Nang International, temporarily suspended operations over the weekend, while more than 240,000 soldiers were placed on standby for rescue and relief efforts.
By midday, Bualoi had weakened to a tropical low-pressure system and was moving toward Laos after "ravaging Vietnam for 13 hours," the newspaper VnExpress reported. Before striking Vietnam, Bualoi had battered the Philippines, where it reached typhoon strength and killed at least 27 people, according authorities.
Hundreds of thousands were forced to evacuate as the storm, which sometimes reached typhoon strength, swept across the island nation before heading west over the South China Sea.
Series of deadly storms Vietnam has faced a string of destructive storms in recent months.
Just a month ago, Typhoon Kajiki killed at least three people and caused heavy flooding in central and northern regions. Last year, Typhoon Yagi left around 300 dead and inflicted widespread damage.
Source: Qatar Tribune
