Tornado injures four and damages 75 homes in Ca Mau, Vietnam

A tornado that developed during severe thunderstorms injured four people and damaged 75 homes across Vietnam’s southern Ca Mau Province on July 13, 2026.

A tornado that developed during severe thunderstorms swept across several communes in Vietnam’s southern Ca Mau Province on the morning of Sunday, July 13, injuring four people and damaging 75 homes, according to provincial authorities.

The tornado struck Khanh Binh, Tran Van Thoi, Tri Phai, and Luong The Tran communes, leaving a trail of damaged homes, uprooted trees, and scattered debris as powerful winds tore metal and tile roofs from buildings within minutes. Heavy rain continued for several hours after the tornado passed.

The latest official assessment recorded damage to 75 houses, including 12 that were destroyed or collapsed and 63 that sustained varying degrees of damage. Four injured residents were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Khanh Binh Commune sustained the most extensive damage. Authorities reported damage to 25 homes and one campus of Ly Tu Trong Primary School. Initial assessments found five houses destroyed and another 20 with roof or structural damage.

Tri Phai Commune reported damage to 14 homes in Kinh 5 Hamlet, while Luong The Tran Commune recorded damage to 20 houses, including one that collapsed and 19 that suffered roof or structural damage. Tran Van Thoi Commune reported damage to 12 homes, including one that was destroyed.

Provincial authorities said the overall number of affected homes later increased to 75 as inspection teams completed damage assessments across the impacted communities.

Police, military personnel, civil defense teams, and local community organizations were immediately mobilized to clear debris, repair damaged homes, assist affected residents, and conduct detailed damage assessments for emergency assistance. Provincial leaders also visited injured residents and inspected affected communities while directing authorities to accelerate recovery operations and provide support for affected families.

Families whose homes were destroyed are receiving VND5 million in emergency support from the Vietnam Fatherland Front, while households with damaged homes are receiving VND3 million. Khanh Binh Commune also approved additional local assistance, allocating VND2 million for each destroyed home and VND1 million for homes that sustained damage.

The tornado occurred during a period of active southwest monsoon conditions affecting southern Vietnam. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting had warned of widespread thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts, and hazardous weather over southern waters and adjacent areas during the period. However, no official meteorological authority has attributed the tornado directly to the southwest monsoon.

Authorities said Ca Mau has experienced a series of severe weather events this year. Since the beginning of 2026, the province has recorded 82 landslides, 43 tornadoes, and multiple episodes of heavy and unseasonal rainfall, resulting in two deaths, four injuries, and estimated economic losses exceeding VND25.4 billion (approximately US$972 000).

Cleanup operations remained underway on July 14 as authorities continued assessing damage, restoring homes and public infrastructure, and coordinating assistance for affected households.

References:

¹ Tornado injures four as storms batter Vietnam’s Ca Mau – VietNamNet Global – July 14, 2026

² Lốc xoáy làm 75 căn nhà ở Cà Mau bị thiệt hại – Vietnam Television (VTV) – July 14, 2026

³ Lốc xoáy càn quét làm thiệt hại hơn 70 căn nhà, 4 người bị thương ở Cà Mau – Voice of Vietnam (VOV) – July 13, 2026

Featured image: Strong winds tore roofs from houses in several communes. Credit: Tao Dat/Vietnamnet global

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

This author does not have any more posts.