NINH BÌNH, Vietnam — A powerful tornado struck multiple communes in Ninh Bình Province before dawn on September 29, leaving at least nine people dead, 18 injured, and hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed.
In Phú Bình village, Nguyễn Minh Đức, 29, recalled being lifted from his bed by the violent winds. His grandparents were buried under collapsed walls but survived with broken bones. Others were less fortunate: two elderly residents were killed when their home caved in.
Entire neighborhoods were left in ruins. Roofs were torn away, concrete walls leveled, and water tanks, vehicles, and furniture scattered hundreds of meters. “It felt like a bomb went off,” said Hoàng Thị Hường, 58, who survived by sheltering in a corner as her roof was ripped off.
Authorities reported 11 homes collapsed, 126 unroofed, five schools and a health station damaged, along with temples and markets. Families are now clearing debris, some borrowing money to repair homes while others shelter with neighbors.
Meteorologists said the twister was fueled by unstable weather patterns as Typhoon Bualoi’s circulation collided with lingering remnants of another storm and a northern cold front. The same system triggered tornadoes in Hưng Yên, Hải Phòng, and Quảng Ninh, causing additional deaths and injuries.
“We just want a roof and a bed so my sick wife has somewhere proper to rest,” said 82-year-old Nguyễn Văn Thủ, whose house was destroyed.
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Source: Vietnam Insider