In the early morning of 23/3, storms and hailstones poured down on Tung Vai commune, Tuyen Quang province, unroofing many houses.

Residents in Tung Vai commune reported the hailstorm lasted about one hour, with hailstones 1-3 cm in diameter falling densely. Strong winds ripped off the corrugated iron roofs of houses.

At the same time, storms accompanied by hailstones were also recorded in Quan Ba, Tuyen Quang province. By this morning, dozens of trees had been uprooted. Photo: Thuy Truong

The Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention reported that hailstorms on two days, 21-22/3, injured two people in Lao Cai, caused one house to collapse, and unroofed over 820 homes. Local authorities are currently compiling statistics on the damage from this morning's hailstorm and storm.

A kindergarten in Quan Bi commune was damaged after the storm. Photo: Thuy Truong

Houses in Quan Ba commune had their roofs ripped off. Photo: Thuy Truong

The North is transitioning from spring to summer, a period when extreme weather phenomena like storms, hailstorms, and lightning often occur. The cause of hailstorms is the large temperature difference between lingering cold air masses and rapidly rising daytime temperatures, which destabilizes the atmosphere and creates conditions for strong thunderstorm cloud development.

The roof structure of one household in Quan Ba completely collapsed after the overnight storm.

A homestay in Quan Ba collapsed. Photo: Kien Man Homestay

A small truck in Thuong Bang La commune, Lao Cai province, was swept into a field by a storm on the afternoon of 22/3. Also on the afternoon of 22/3, Phu Tho, Son La, and Lao Cai provinces experienced storms and hailstorms, damaging crops. Photo: Thuong Bang La Commune Community

Yesterday's storm damaged 650 houses in Thuong Bang La commune, unroofing them; 150 hectares of crops were damaged, and 60 electricity poles broke. Economic damage is estimated at about 5 billion VND. Photo: Thuong Bang La Commune Police

Gia Chinh