Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

By Le Hoang, Dac Thanh, Duc Hung   September 28, 2025 | 10:48 pm PT
Storm Bualoi tore through central Vietnam on Monday, ripping roofs from hundreds of houses, collapsing buildings and leaving scenes of devastation across Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri provinces.
Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

In Thanh Hoa, the storm tore off and collapsed dozens of houses in Phuong Mao Hamlet, Hoang Giang Commune. Many corrugated iron and red-tiled roofs were blown away, power poles snapped along the roads, leaving locals stunned by the destruction.

Photo by Viet Hoang

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Hundreds of houses in Hoang Phu Commune also lost their roofs, with power poles left scattered on the ground.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Even a solidly built villa had its roof and perimeter walls shredded by the storm.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

At around 6 a.m. on Monday, a powerful whirlwind struck coastal Ninh Binh, leaving nine people dead. Local authorities reported that several others were injured and were being treated in hospital. School roofs were blown off, electricity poles toppled, and infrastructure severely damaged.

The photo shows destroyed houses after the whirlwind in Quy Nhat Commune, Ninh Binh.

Photo by Hoa Lu

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

In Quang Tri's Phu Trach Commune, the province's hardest-hit area, many homes were stripped of their roofs, leaving only bare frames.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Broken tiles, roofing sheets, household items, and signage were strewn across the ground, creating scenes of chaos.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

A business facility along National Highway 1 had its corrugated iron roof of over 1,000 square meters ripped away by the storm.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

In Ha Tinh's Thien Cam Beach and nearby coastal communes, many shops lost their roofs and frames despite being reinforced, with the storm's winds tearing everything apart.

Residents returning to their shops stood in shock, staring at shutters and metal sheets scattered across the ground.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Even well-constructed coastal homes had damaged roofs, their tiles no longer intact after the typhoon.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Strong gusts tore down part of the dining hall roof of a hospital in Song Tri Ward, Ha Tinh Province.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

Trinh Thi Mung burst into tears after her small tile-roofed house was unroofed by the storm, with water damaging her belongings.

"When the storm made landfall, I stayed at my child's home. Coming back this morning, I found my house roofless and everything inside soaked," she said.

Roofs torn off, houses collapse as Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam

At 3 a.m. on Monday, a house in Mai Phu Commune, Ha Tinh collapsed. Neighbors and relatives came to help collect belongings before heavy rain from the tropical depression moved in.

Storm Bualoi had killed at least 12 people: nine in Ninh Binh, and three in Thanh Hoa, Hue, and Da Nang. Meanwhile, 17 fishermen on three boats from Ho Chi Minh City and Gia Lai had lost contact since the previous day.

 
 
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