VINH, Vietnam, Sept. 28 – Vietnam evacuated thousands of people and shut down several airports on Sunday as Typhoon Bualoi intensified, threatening central provinces with heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds. The storm comes days after causing at least 10 deaths and widespread flooding in the Philippines.
The typhoon was generating winds of up to 133 km/h (83 mph) as of 10 a.m. GMT and is forecast to make landfall in central Vietnam around 1 a.m. Monday, slowing as it approaches the coast, according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper.
“This is a rapidly moving storm—nearly twice the average speed—with strong intensity and a broad area of impact,” the national weather forecast agency said. “It is capable of triggering multiple natural disasters simultaneously, including powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides, and coastal inundation.”
Authorities warned that northern and central provinces could receive up to 600 mm of rain through October 1, with rivers rising by as much as nine meters, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides.
The central province of Ha Tinh has begun evacuating more than 15,000 residents, while thousands of troops are on standby, government officials said. In Vinh, the capital of Nghe An province, residents rushed to secure homes, tie down boats, and stack sandbags or water-filled sacks on rooftops.
“We already suffered losses from Typhoon Kajiki earlier this year and haven’t recovered yet,” said Bui Thi Tuyet, a 41-year-old resident. “Over the last 20 years living here, I have not felt this terrified because of storms.”
Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority suspended operations at four coastal airports from Sunday, including Da Nang International Airport, and adjusted the departure times of several flights. Schools in affected areas will be closed on Monday, with possible extensions depending on the storm’s impact, VnExpress reported.
Heavy rain has already caused flooding in Hue and Quang Tri provinces, authorities said, as the nation braces for Typhoon Bualoi’s landfall.
