'I've never seen anything like this before': Torrential rain after Vietnam typhoon leaves at least 26 dead

Torrential rain following Typhoon Bualoi has triggered more flooding and landslides in Vietnam, where at least 26 people have been killed and more are missing.

More than 30cm of rain hit parts of the country within 24 hours, with forecasters on Tuesday warning heavy downpours would continue. As the number of fatalities rose, state media reported that 22 people were missing.

The prolonged rain caused flash floods and landslides that cut off roads and isolated communities from the northern mountains of Son La and Lao Cai provinces to central Nghe An province. "Water is flowing into my living room," said 49-year-old Hanoi resident Hoang Quoc Uy.

"I've never seen anything like this before." Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said it had cancelled or rescheduled several flights at the capital's Noi Bai International Airport "for the safety of passengers". "The weather condition in Hanoi is evolving in a complicated manner, with stormy rains that affect visibility and operations," it added.

State-run Vietnam Railways Corp has also suspended most of its services between Hanoi and the business hub of Ho Chi Minh City, a company official said. Rivers swollen by downpours and dam discharges have caused widespread flooding and landslides in the north.

The Thao River in Yen Bai rose well above emergency levels overnight, with water up to a metre deep gushing into homes and forcing evacuations. Many streets in the capital, Hanoi, were flooded and authorities warned people close to the Red River, which passes through the city, should take precautions.

Typhoon Bualoi had already caused at least 20 deaths in the Philippines since Friday. It made landfall in Vietnam early on Monday then lingered, which increased the danger.

Climate change and global warming are making storms like these stronger and wetter, according to experts, because warmer oceans provide tropical storms with more fuel, driving more intense winds, heavier rainfall and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia..