Heavy rain and strong winds from Typhoon Bualoi flooded roads, knocked off roofs and caused at least 12 deaths in central Vietnam, before weakening to a tropical storm that moved into Laos on Monday, state media reported.

The storm tore through communities, damaging houses, schools and power poles, sweeping away temporary bridges and flooding roads and low-water crossings across several provinces. Flooding in cities submerged vehicles and many highland communities were cut off.

State media said rescue teams were searching for 17 missing fishermen.

A boat is washed ashore in Quang Tri, Vietnam, after Typhoon Bualoi went through the area. Officials were searching for several missing fishermen after the storm. (Vo Ta Chuyen/VNA/The Associated Press)

By midmorning, the storm's centre was

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