Vietnam’s death toll from Typhoon Bualoi rose to 19 with another 21 people still missing, the government said on Tuesday, making it the most devastating storm to hit the country this year as heavy rains caused severe flooding in Hanoi and across northern provinces. Bualoi made landfall on Monday in northern central Vietnam, bringing huge sea swells, strong winds and downpours. In the capital Hanoi, streets were heavily flooded as persistent downpours were accompanied by thunder and lightning, paralysing traffic in many downtown areas. Floodwaters rose to close to the roof level of houses in several villages in Nghe An province, according to footage on state broadcaster VTV. With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that often also bring heavy rains that cause severe flooding.