Vietnam requests urgent responses as Typhoon Bualoi nears landfall tonight

THE HANOI TIMES — Typhoon Bualoi is forecast to make landfall late tonight in north-central Vietnam, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall and the risk of flash floods and landslides, prompting mass evacuations across Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting warned that the storm would directly affect northern and north-central regions, especially from Thanh Hoa to Danang, between September 28 and September 30, with impacts in the following days.

By early afternoon on September 28, the typhoon was located about 110 km east-northeast of Hue and 220 km southeast of northern Quang Tri. Maximum sustained winds reached level 12 (118–133 km/h), with gusts up to level 15.

The storm was moving north, with gale-force winds stretching as far as Ninh Binh Province. At 4 PM on September 28, its center was expected over the waters from Nghe An to Quang Tri, packing winds of level 12–13, gusting to level 16.

Between 10 PM on September 28 and 1 AM on September 29, the storm was forecast to make landfall in Nghe An and Ha Tinh, remaining inland for 6–8 hours.

Winds of level 11–12, gusting to level 14, were expected, along with rainfall of 200–400 mm, locally over 600 mm. Tides could rise by 1–1.5 meters, creating high risk of floods, flash floods, landslides and threats to sea dikes and reservoirs.

The national center stressed that Bualoi was unusually strong and fast-moving, with wide-ranging and complex impacts.

Provinces were instructed to prepare for floods, flash floods, landslides and ensure the safety of dikes and reservoirs, while submitting daily reports to the Party Committee’s Central Office before 4.00 PM every day.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said by the afternoon of September 28, the storm’s center was off southern Quang Tri and Hue. Danang, Hue and southern Quang Tri were mostly safe from strong winds, though scattered rain continued. The storm’s heaviest impacts were focused on Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Ha Tinh was expected to face strong winds by 7–8 PM, peaking around midnight. In Nghe An, especially Cua Lo, the strongest winds were forecast around 2–3 AM on September 29, while Thanh Hoa would face peak winds between 4–5 AM. Gusts could reach level 14 in Ha Tinh and Nghe An and level 12–13 in Thanh Hoa.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, speaking at an online meeting with affected provinces and cities, warned that Bualoi could cause serious damage to homes and infrastructure.

He urged decisive evacuations, saying experience shows tides rising 1.5–2 meters can drive waves as high as five meters, with impacts reaching far inland.

Rainfall of 200–500 mm was forecast, possibly higher due to the storm’s broad circulation, threatening flash floods and landslides in western Thanh Hoa, mountainous Nghe An, Son La and the northeast. Reservoirs were already near capacity in some areas, raising the risk of flooding.

Local authorities were required to stock fuel, water, food and essential supplies and emphasized that even after the typhoon passes, strong winds could persist for six hours, requiring continued vigilance.

“The spirit is that after each storm, like after each battle, we must draw lessons so we have concrete scenarios ready for the next one,” Deputy Prime Minister Ha said.

Preparedness on the ground

In Thanh Hoa, Military Zone 4 deployed nearly 10,000 soldiers and vehicles for storm response and rescue, with 2,000 stationed at 16 high-risk points carrying dry rations and supplies in case of isolation.

Nghe An authorities reviewed roads at risk of landslides and floods, restricted traffic and imposed a curfew from 11 PM September 28 until the storm passed.

More than 2,900 fishing boats were in safe shelter. Of nearly 1,100 reservoirs, some 940 were full while major dams released water to increase capacity. About 180 households were evacuated.

In Ha Tinh, over 14,500 people were evacuated, mostly from coastal areas. More than 3,900 boats had been brought to shelter. Large reservoirs, including Ke Go and Song Rac, were at the safe level of 47%–63% of capacity. Police, army and border guards were on full alert to reinforce homes and protect residents.

Quang Tri evacuated more than 2,300 people, including all tourists from Con Co Island, while 185 remaining residents and soldiers were moved to solid shelters. Flooding and landslides disrupted traffic in mountainous districts such as Dakrong and Huong Hoa.

The province reported three missing persons, including a child swept away by floodwaters and two fishermen lost near Cua Viet, along with one injured resident.

In Hue, authorities harvested 99% of the summer-autumn rice crop and 80% of the aquaculture areas. All boats had taken shelter. Reservoirs were at only 40% capacity and considered safe.

More than 1,000 people from coastal communes were evacuated, with over 3,000 police and soldiers on duty. Initial damage included 89 homes unroofed and one fatality.

Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, said that the Ministry of National Defense has prepared more than 344,000 troops and 8,000 vehicles nationwide to prepare for the typhoon.

Both the army and police were ordered to remain on high alert and support local governments. Provinces not directly in the storm’s path but within its wider impact zone were told to rigorously enforce government instructions.

Officials stressed that Typhoon Bualoi’s late-night landfall, combined with peak tides, created a dangerous situation requiring the highest level of readiness. Evacuation, asset protection and strict enforcement of safety measures were highlighted as critical priorities.