With 51 casualties and over $328 million in damages, Vietnam braces for continued extreme weather.
In September, four tropical storms swept across the East Sea, with Storm No. 10 causing particularly severe damage. Forecasts for October suggest the possibility of one or two additional storms or tropical depressions affecting mainland Vietnam.
This year’s storm season has been exceptionally active. From storms No. 7 through No. 10, all developed in just one month. Among them, Storm No. 10, Bualoi, left widespread destruction in its wake with heavy rainfall, severe flooding, and extreme weather phenomena, causing significant human and material losses.
As October begins, unusual climate patterns continue, prompting authorities and residents to remain highly alert and prepared for further developments.
Four storms in one month
In Hoang Phu commune, Thanh Hoa province, Storm Bualoi brought intense winds and heavy rains, damaging many homes, some of which were completely destroyed. Photo by Le Duong
Statistics show that four storms formed over the East Sea in September alone. Storms No. 7 (Tapah) and No. 8 (Mitag) moved quickly and had little direct impact on Vietnam. However, storms No. 9 (Ragasa) and No. 10 (Bualoi) had considerable effects.
Storm No. 10 in particular caused widespread damage that local authorities and communities will take a long time to recover from.
Bualoi originated in the eastern Philippine Sea and strengthened to level 12, with gusts reaching level 15, before making landfall between Quang Tri and Nghe An. Experts classified it as the strongest storm of 2025 so far. Due to its large circulation, the storm caused prolonged rainfall in North Central and Northern Vietnam, with some areas recording 350–500mm of rain. Rivers rose rapidly, surpassing alarm level 3 in multiple locations.
Provinces from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh suffered widespread flooding and dike erosion. The Red River Delta was also affected, with intense rain reaching Hanoi on September 30, triggering severe urban flooding.
Additionally, eight tornadoes struck northern provinces, causing heavy losses of life and property.
Experts note that the defining feature of this September was the series of strong storms that caused widespread and extreme rainfall, significantly increasing economic and social damage compared to the same period in previous years.
Thanh Nien Street in Yen Bai ward, Lao Cai province, submerged under 3 meters of water. Residents had to use boats to get around. Photo by Thanh Mien
The East Sea saw four named storms in September:
Storm No. 7 Tapah: Formed on September 5 from a low-pressure system northeast of the East Sea. It intensified to storm level 8 with gusts of 10 by September 6. On the morning of September 8, it made landfall in Guangdong, China, at storm levels 10–11, gusting to 13, before weakening inland and dissipating.
Storm No. 8 Mitag: On the night of September 17, a tropical depression formed near Luzon Island and moved into the northeastern East Sea. By midday September 18, it had become a level 8 storm, gusting to 10. It weakened on September 20 over southern Guangdong and had no direct effect on Vietnam.
Storm No. 9 Ragasa: Entered the northeast East Sea on the evening of September 22 as a super typhoon with level 17 winds and higher gusts, moving west-northwest at 20–25 km/h. By the morning of September 24, it had weakened to level 15. On September 25, it reached Quang Ninh waters, became a tropical depression, and later dissipated.
Storm No. 10 Bualoi: Entered the East Sea on the night of September 26 with winds at level 12, gusting to 15, moving west-northwest at 30–35 km/h. It made landfall late on September 28 between Ha Tinh and northern Quang Tri, with maximum winds at level 11 and gusts to 14. By midday September 29, it had moved into upper Laos, downgraded to a tropical depression, and eventually became a low-pressure area.
October remains a peak storm season
Storm Bualoi’s circulation caused heavy rains in Hanoi on September 30, flooding many streets. Photo by Minh Quan
Meteorologists forecast that in October 2025, the East Sea could see 2–3 more storms or tropical depressions, with 1–2 of them potentially impacting mainland Vietnam. The long-term average is about two storms in the East Sea per October, with fewer than one typically hitting the mainland.
The nationwide average temperature in October is expected to be 0.5–1°C higher than usual.
In early October, the North and Thanh Hoa may experience widespread heavy rains. Central provinces from Nghe An to northern Khanh Hoa could also see significant rainfall. Other regions are forecast to receive frequent showers and thunderstorms, with some days bringing moderate to heavy rain.
Forecasters warn that alternating sunny days and heavy rain, along with wide temperature differences between day and night, could affect public health.
"Notably, cold air is expected to become more active starting mid-October 2025," experts said.
Climatologists point out that weather patterns in 2025 have been “unusual” compared to long-term norms, especially in storm frequency and intensity. With four storms already recorded in September alone, October is likely to bring more activity.
Given these conditions, authorities and the public are urged to monitor official forecasts closely and proactively prepare for storm-related emergencies to ensure safety.
Storm No. 10’s toll
According to a preliminary report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 6 a.m. on October 1, storm Bualoi and related floods had resulted in 51 people dead or missing: 29 confirmed deaths and 22 missing. Hardest-hit provinces included Ninh Binh (9), Thanh Hoa (4), Lao Cai (3), and Quang Tri (3). Additionally, 139 people were injured, and 8 fishermen aboard the BD 97258 TS vessel from Gia Lai have been missing since September 27.
Numerous houses, infrastructure, dikes, and power poles were destroyed or severely damaged. Livestock, crops, and aquaculture facilities were flooded or swept away.
Preliminary economic losses are estimated at approximately 8,016 billion VND (about 328 million USD), with Ha Tinh suffering the most at around 245 million USD, followed by Nghe An at 58 million USD, Quang Tri at 22 million USD, and Lao Cai at 1.6 million USD.
Vietnamnet.vn
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