Typhoon Bualoi, the most devastating storm to hit Vietnam this year, has left a trail of destruction across the country, with the death toll rising to at least 26 and dozens still missing as of September 30, 2025, according to multiple reports from The Associated Press and Reuters. The typhoon, which battered the northern and central regions after making landfall late Sunday, unleashed torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides that have overwhelmed communities and crippled infrastructure from rural villages to the bustling capital, Hanoi.
Rainfall exceeded 30 centimeters (nearly a foot) in several provinces, with some areas recording over 300 millimeters (12 inches) in just 24 hours, the national weather agency reported. The relentless downpours swelled rivers, breached dams, and sent muddy torrents crashing through homes and fields, isolating entire communities from the northern mountains of Son La and Lao Cai to central Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. In Hanoi, streets were submerged and traffic ground to a standstill, while authorities warned residents living near the Red River to brace for further flooding.
"Water is flowing into my living room. I've never seen anything like this before," said Hoang Quoc Uy, a 49-year-old Hanoi resident, as quoted by Reuters. The capital's Noi Bai International Airport was forced to divert or delay flights due to the severe weather, and Vietnam Airlines cancelled or rescheduled several routes for passenger safety. "The weather condition in Hanoi is evolving in a complicated manner, with stormy rains that affect visibility and operations," the airline stated.
Schools throughout Hanoi and other affected areas were closed by midday on Tuesday, with about 2.3 million students ordered to remain home on October 1, 2025. The city’s rail system was also disrupted, as Vietnam Railways suspended most services between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the hardest-hit rural provinces, entire villages found themselves without road access or power, and images broadcast on state television showed floodwaters reaching the roofs of homes in Nghe An.
The human toll continues to mount. At least 26 people have been confirmed dead, and 22 more remain missing, according to state media. Among the missing are eight fishermen and a family of four in Tuyen Quang province, whose home was buried by a landslide. In the northern province of Ninh Binh, nine people died when a whirlwind linked to the storm swept through early Monday. Additional fatalities were reported in Hue and Thanh Hoa provinces. Local and national disaster authorities are still searching for survivors, with many fearing the numbers may rise as rescue teams reach more remote areas.
Those who survived the storm face staggering losses. More than 135,000 homes have been damaged, with roofs torn off and interiors submerged. "All of my belongings have been damaged, all gone," said Ngo Thi Loan, a 56-year-old resident of Nghe An province, whose home was left half a meter deep in floodwater after the roof was ripped away. Over 44,200 houses were damaged in Ha Tinh alone, and at least 800 homes were flooded, according to disaster authorities. The government reported that 105 people have been injured across the affected regions.
The agricultural sector has also taken a heavy hit. More than 25,500 hectares (63,000 acres) of rice and crops were inundated, and nearly 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of farmland were left underwater. Power outages continue to plague parts of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, and thousands remain in temporary shelters after evacuations. In total, more than 53,000 people were moved to schools and medical centers hastily converted into emergency shelters before Bualoi’s landfall, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Transportation and daily life have been severely disrupted. Four domestic airports, including Hanoi’s main hub, were closed or saw significant delays, and more than 180 flights were cancelled or postponed. Parts of the national highway system were rendered impassable by landslides and flooding, further complicating rescue and relief efforts. With traffic paralyzed in downtown Hanoi and cars and motorbikes stranded in rising waters, the city has struggled to maintain basic services.
Typhoon Bualoi’s impact was felt beyond Vietnam. The storm had already left a deadly mark on the Philippines, where it struck small islands with winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour), toppling trees and power lines, and forcing the evacuation of 400,000 people. By Monday, September 29, the Philippine death toll had climbed to at least 27, with most victims drowning or being struck by debris, according to civil defense officials. Bualoi followed closely on the heels of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which killed 14 in northern Philippines, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to increasingly severe tropical weather.
Scientists and climate experts warn that storms like Bualoi are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming. Warmer oceans provide more fuel for tropical cyclones, resulting in stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia. "Global warming is making storms like these stronger and wetter," experts told The Associated Press, a view echoed by local authorities who have seen firsthand the escalating devastation wrought by recent typhoons. Vietnam’s General Statistics Office reported that natural disasters claimed 175 lives or left people missing from January to August this year, with damages estimated at $371 million—almost triple the economic cost during the same period in 2024. Last year’s Typhoon Yagi killed hundreds and caused losses of $3.3 billion.
Vietnam’s long coastline and geographic location make it particularly prone to typhoons and the flooding they bring. Each year, the country faces multiple storms that test the resilience of its infrastructure and the resolve of its people. The government and local communities have responded with evacuations, closures, and emergency measures, but the scale of Bualoi’s destruction is a sobering reminder of the growing challenges posed by climate change.
As Bualoi weakened and moved across the border into Laos, cleanup and recovery efforts began in earnest. Yet for those who lost homes, loved ones, and livelihoods, the path to normalcy will be long and fraught with uncertainty. The images of flooded pagodas, battered homes, and families seeking shelter serve as a stark testament to the storm’s power—and to the urgent need for both immediate relief and long-term adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate.