50 homes in Vietnam's Central Highlands ruined by cyclonic hailstorm

April 20, 2016 | 09:32

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A hailstorm swept through an area of Gia Lai Province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands on Sunday evening, causing 50 homes to be heavily damaged.

Damage inflicted by the hailstorm which accompanied a cyclone that struck Ia Rsai Commune in Krong Pa District had been calculated, the People’s Committee in the district confirmed on Monday afternoon.

A total of 50 homes were ravaged by the climatic event, of which 26 had their roofs blown off, with repair costs estimated at hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million = US$4,484), said Hiao Buk, vice chairman of the People’s Committee in Ia Rsai.

According to Ralan Nuon, a local resident, his entire house, which was only recently constructed, was moved from its original location by the cyclone.

Meanwhile, Hiao Thuyen, another resident of the commune, reported that the metal roof of his house was ripped off by the wind, resulting in several 10-meter-long pieces of metal hanging on nearby trees.

Hailstorms also hit many areas of the commune with pellets recorded at up to three centimeters in diameter, which pierced through the roofs of several homes, forcing residents to find shelter at their neighbors’ houses, whose structures were more stable.

Local authorities have supported each damaged residence with VND500,000 ($22.42) towards them temporarily repairing their homes.

Despite its destructive nature, the hailstorm, along with showers in several other districts of Gia Lai on Monday evening, has cooled off the region for the first time in nearly six months of scorching temperatures.

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