Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered urgent measures to overcome the consequences of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides triggered by Typhoon Bualoi – the 10th storm to hit the East Sea this year – which has caused severe human and material losses across northern and central provinces.
The Prime Minister on September 30 signed official dispatch No. 181/CD-TTg, directing authorities in the northern mountainous provinces of Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang and Lao Cai, as well as Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, along with relevant ministries, to mobilise all available resources to ensure timely search, rescue, and relief operations.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, torrential rains brought by the typhoon’s circulation have triggered flash floods and landslides in the northern mountainous provinces. In Cao Bang, a flash flood swept through a workers’ camp at Dong Dang–Tra Linh expressway construction site, leaving three workers missing, two injured, and two dead. In Tuyen Quang, four people remain missing due to landslides, while in Lao Cai, four people have been reported dead or missing.
On behalf of the Party and State, Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Chinh expressed their deepest condolences to families who lost loved relatives and conveyed solidarity with people suffering from the disaster.
The PM instructed the Chairpersons of the Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, and Lao Cai provincial People's Committees to directly lead relief efforts, mobilise necessary forces and equipment, and quickly reach disaster-hit areas to conduct search and rescue while ensuring the safety of rescue teams.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with guiding the provinces to strengthen flood and landslide prevention, organise timely evacuation of residents from high-risk zones, and ensure the safety of dikes, dams, and reservoirs.
The Ministries of National Defence and Public Security were ordered to coordinate closely with local authorities to search for the missing and assist people in recovering from the disaster.
The Ministry of Construction was directed to tighten safety supervision at construction sites, particularly along expressways in mountainous and north-central regions, to minimise risks to workers and equipment during the rainy season.
The Office of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defence and the Government Office will monitor developments, coordinate with localities, and promptly report unexpected issues to the PM and the Deputy PM in charge of the work.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that, as of 16:00 on September 30, the storm and subsequent flooding had left 27 people dead, 21 missing, and 112 injured across 17 provinces and cities from the northern to central regions. Nearly 158,500 houses were destroyed, damaged, or inundated, while more than 26,600 hectares of rice and crops were ruined. Infrastructure damage was widespread, with thousands of power poles pulled down, roads blocked at over 1,100 locations, and tens of thousands of trees uprooted.
The ministry further reported that extensive flooding submerged nearly 14,000 homes, particularly in Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces, while 9,500 ha of aquaculture farms were damaged. Fifteen dike incidents have been recorded in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri provinces.
Weather forecasts indicate that heavy rains are likely to persist in the coming days. Between the evening of September 30 and the morning of October 1, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Tuyen Quang provinces are expected to receive 50–100mm of rainfall, with some areas exceeding 170mm. Floodwater in several rivers, including Thao, Ma, Hoang Long, and Ca rivers, are projected to remain at or above danger levels.
Authorities also warned of a continued high risk of flash floods and landslides in northern mountainous provinces and urge people to stay vigilant.
