Hailstorms and violent winds on the afternoon and evening of May 2 caused widespread damage across several northern provinces, leaving five people injured and around 350 homes with their roofs torn off. Thai Nguyen was the hardest-hit locality.

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Hail and strong winds swept through several communes in Thai Nguyen Province on the afternoon of May 2. Photo: N.Hoan

On the morning of May 3, the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment released a rapid report on the damage caused by hail and storms in northern provinces.

According to the report, extreme weather struck Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, and Hanoi, injuring five people, all in Thai Nguyen.

Approximately 350 houses were damaged, with Thai Nguyen accounting for 309 homes, followed by Dien Bien with 40 and Lao Cai with one.

In addition, 919 hectares of rice and crops were affected, mainly in Dien Bien (767 hectares) and Thai Nguyen (152 hectares). Six schools in Thai Nguyen lost their roofs, while 12 power poles collapsed, causing localized power outages.

Local authorities are continuing to assess and update the extent of the damage.

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Hail caused damage in Lang Muong hamlet, Yen Trach commune. Photo: N.Hoan

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Storms damaged Phu Thinh Primary School, tearing off the roofs of five functional rooms. Photo: N.Hoan

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Hailstorms and strong winds in Phu Lac commune caused severe damage to homes and property. Photo: N.Hoan
 
 

Earlier, in the late afternoon of May 2, a sudden hailstorm accompanied by strong winds swept across multiple northern provinces. In several areas, hailstones measured up to 4-5cm in diameter, including Thanh An commune in Dien Bien and districts such as Ung Hoa and My Duc in Hanoi.

Thai Nguyen has recorded the most severe damage so far. According to a rapid report from local civil defense authorities, the storm began between 5:30pm and 6pm the same day.

In Yen Trach commune, by 9pm on May 2, two people had been injured: Nguyen Thi Yen from An Khe hamlet and Nguyen Thanh Chien from Din Deng hamlet.

The commune reported damage to 51 houses, including one that collapsed completely in Lang Nong hamlet, 15 homes that lost more than 70 percent of their roofs, mainly in Na Phang and Lang Nong, and 34 others partially damaged, including auxiliary structures and livestock facilities.

In Tan Ky commune, 31 houses had their roofs blown off, including the home of Nguyen Huy Hien in Cong Tum hamlet, which was completely unroofed.

A similar situation occurred in Phu Thinh commune, where Phu Thinh Primary School lost the roofs of five functional rooms. Localized power outages were reported across 24 hamlets.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, cold air continues to compress and push a low-pressure trough downward, bringing rain, moderate rainfall, and scattered thunderstorms to the northern region, with some areas experiencing heavy to very heavy rain extending as far as Hue.

The National Steering Committee for Civil Defense has instructed the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention to maintain round-the-clock monitoring, closely track weather developments, and promptly deliver forecasts and warnings to local authorities to support timely response and disaster management.


Bao Khanh - Bao Anh