VietNamNet Bridge – A freak hailstorm injured five people in the northern province of Cao Bang on March 31. Thousands of houses and hundreds of hectares of crops were damaged as well.

The hailstones in Trung Khanh, Cao Bang on the night of March 31. Photo: Cao Bang Newspaper

The hailstones in Trung Khanh, Cao Bang on the night of March 31. Photo: Cao Bang Newspaper

Border guards help people in Quang Long commune re-roof damaged houses. Photo: Cao Bang Newspaper

Hail unexpectedly appeared just after 9pm in the four districts of Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, Ha Quang and Tra Linh of Cao Bang Province.

According to the Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control, the 10-minute storm damaged more than 4,000 houses and over 100 hectares of crops in these districts.

Trung Khanh District suffered the most, with nearly 3,000 houses damaged and five people injured.

Meteorological experts consider the hailstones, which ranged up to 3cm, or golf ball size, to be the largest ever in Cao Bang.

Also, during in the night of March 31 and early morning April 1, hail occurred in the town of Dong Van in Ha Giang Province, with hailstone diameters ranging from 5mm to 10mm.

Le Ha