Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Caritas di Thanh Hoa
by Andrew Doan Thanh PhongThanh Hoa (Agenzia Fides) – Despite the danger posed by the severe floods that submerged entire communities in Thanh Hoa province, on the morning of September 30, 2025, a group of Catholic volunteers from the “Sharing Life & Smiles” group of the Diocese of Thanh Hoa set out to provide timely assistance to the faithful of the parish in An Cu, who were affected by the severe flooding. Many people were still stranded on rooftops. The volunteers brought 300 boxes of instant noodles, drinking water, and medicine: but it wasn’t just a matter of distributing essential goods, but also hearts filled with boundless love. Thus, the Catholic community offers a testimony of charity amidst the heavy loss of life and property caused by Typhoon Bualoi. The storm, with strong gusts of wind and heavy rain, hit Vietnam’s central coast on the night of September 28-29, leaving 26 dead, 23 missing, and 105 injured, as well as causing severe property damage to the population in the central and northern regions, particularly in Quang Binh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Ha Tinh, who had to endure a long sleepless night.According to statistics from the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 1:00 PM on September 30th, 2025, 11 of the 26 victims were killed by a tornado in Ninh Binh, northern Vietnam. The others were killed by floods, landslides, trees, and collapsed houses caused by the typhoon, which moved through several provinces in central Vietnam. Among the 23 missing people, 12 fishermen from Ho Chi Minh City were affected by the storm while seeking shelter in the waters of Quang Tri, central Vietnam.As part of its relief programs, Caritas Thanh Hoa distributed essential supplies to the people of Kien An parish in the Diocese of Thanh Hoa in north-central Vietnam on the evening of September 29, 2025. However, due to the flooding, it was difficult or, in some cases, impossible to reach the affected families. On September 30, as the waters receded, volunteers were able to provide the population with essential supplies. In the Nong Cong region of Thanh Hoa Province, where water reached the roofs of houses and submerged everything, leaving people completely cut off from the outside world, members of Caritas Thanh Hoa had to use boats to distribute food and essential supplies to families. Currently, heavy rains continue in many areas, and water levels continue to rise, creating difficulties for both the people and relief efforts. In this difficult situation, Catholic organizations have posted photos and videos of the damage caused by storms and floods on social media and called on all believers inside and outside Vietnam to provide material and spiritual support to the victims. In particular, the Jesuit Council for Social Apostolate in Vietnam has requested contributions from Catholic communities throughout the country to help the population cope with the consequences of storms and floods and to offer comfort and hope to those in need. According to Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, “this is one of the most severe and devastating natural disasters, with serious impacts on socio-economic activities and public infrastructure, from the sea to the delta, from the central regions to the mountains.” More than 137,000 homes were damaged or had their roofs torn off, mainly in Ha Tinh, Lao Cai, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa. Another 3,370 homes were flooded, and 2,700 homes were completely cut off from the outside world. The rains flooded and damaged over 25,500 hectares of rice and grain crops, and over 8,700 hectares of fishing grounds were washed away.Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who ordered the emergency aid, said: “No one should be left without food, drinking water, shelter, and other essentials. Schools and medical facilities must be restored by October 5, 2025, with priority given to poor and vulnerable families.” Tens of thousands of people, including security forces, volunteers, and members of the Civil Defense Force, have been mobilized to provide rapid assistance in the affected areas. In addition to government efforts, Catholic organizations continue to provide assistance. Among the numerous damaged Catholic facilities, the Franciscan seminary in Nghe An province suffered severe damage. (Agenzia Fides, 1/10/2025)
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