The hailstorm, accompanied by strong winds, lasted around 20–30 minutes in the mountainous area at an elevation of nearly 1,000 m above sea level.

Residents said heavy hail fell on rooftops and roads, with some stones large enough to break car windows and damage glass doors. Several fibro-cement and plastic roofs were also punctured, while crops and fruit trees were heavily damaged within minutes.

Initial assessments showed damage to multiple houses and agricultural areas. In Co De Chai village, a stilt house reportedly collapsed. Four injured residents were taken to Bac Ha Regional Medical Centre for treatment.

The Bac Ha Commune People’s Committee has deployed personnel to assist residents in repairing damaged roofs and stabilising their living conditions.

The event was compared by local residents to a severe hailstorm in 2013, one of the most serious in decades in Lao Cai province, where stones measuring 4–6 cm and some exceeding 10 cm damaged tens of thousands of homes and thousands of hectares of crops.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a weak cold air mass hit northern Vietnam early on April 16, helping to ease the intensive heat that had baked the region for several days. Localities in the northern and north-central regions are expected to experience moderate rain and scattered thunderstorms on April 16 - 17, with rainfall ranging from 20–40 mm and over 100 mm in some areas.

The agency also warned of potential tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds, which may cause damage to crops, trees, homes and infrastructure, and could trigger flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas as well as localised flooding in low-lying regions.

Hailstones hit northern Vietnam

VOV.VN - Hailstones struck the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau on January 17 morning, according to the National Centre for Hydro - Meteorological Forecasting.