Typhoon Bualoi Strikes Vietnam: Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated, Destruction Looms

Typhoon Bualoi made a ferocious landfall in Vietnam’s northern coastal province of Ha Tinh in the early hours of Monday, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of thousands and the closure of major airports. The storm, which has already claimed lives and caused widespread destruction in the Philippines, is battering central and northern Vietnam with powerful winds, torrential rains, and life-threatening storm surges.

The typhoon, packing winds of up to 133 kph (83 mph), hit Ha Tinh before charting a northwest path toward the rugged terrains of Ha Tinh and Nghe An. Forecasters warn that Bualoi’s slow movement will prolong devastating winds and heavy rainfall, heightening risks of flash floods and landslides across the region through October 1. Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, emphasized the storm’s potential for extensive damage, noting its capacity to unleash prolonged periods of chaos.

In the Philippines, Bualoi left a trail of destruction, killing at least 20 people through drownings and falling trees while displacing 23,000 families into emergency shelters. In Vietnam, the storm has already disrupted power for over 347,000 households, with fierce gusts tearing off roofs and toppling concrete pillars along highways. In Phong Nha commune, 45 kilometers from Dong Hoi, residents reported “terrifying” winds and relentless rain, forcing them to hunker down indoors.

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Vietnam’s authorities acted swiftly, grounding fishing boats and ordering mass evacuations. Coastal city Da Nang is relocating over 210,000 residents, while Hue is moving more than 32,000 people from vulnerable coastal areas. The Civil Aviation Authority suspended operations at four key airports, including Danang International, with flights rescheduled to ensure safety.

Central provinces have been drenched since Saturday night, with low-lying areas in Hue flooded and roofs ripped apart. Tragically, a 16-year-old in Quang Tri province was electrocuted during the storm, and one person remains missing after being swept away by floodwaters. At sea, a fishing boat sank, and another was stranded, though rescue operations saved nine people while efforts continue to reach two others.

The storm’s impact is compounded by Vietnam’s recent battle with Typhoon Ragasa, which killed 28 people across the northern Philippines, Taiwan, and China before dissipating over Vietnam last week. Experts attribute the increasing intensity of storms like Bualoi and Ragasa to global warming, which fuels tropical cyclones with warmer ocean waters, driving fiercer winds and heavier rainfall. This shift in weather patterns is raising alarms across East Asia, where communities are grappling with more frequent and destructive storms.

As Vietnam braces for days of heavy rain, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant. Emergency teams are on high alert, and the nation is mobilizing to mitigate the storm’s impact while preparing for potential flooding and landslides in the days ahead.

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