According to Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Bualoi is expected to enter the East Sea late on September 26, becoming the 10th storm to hit the regional waters this year.

Unlike typical storms, he said, Bualoi is moving at an unusually fast pace of around 30 km/h, twice the average speed. When it makes landfall on September 29, the storm is expected to bring strong winds nearing 150 km/h at its centre. It will also affect a broad area, delivering heavy rainfall across both northern and north-central regions, impacting mountainous, midland, and lowland areas alike.

From September 28 to 30, heavy rain will lash northern and north-central provinces, with total rainfall over 72 hours reaching extreme levels. There is a high risk of flashfloods and landslides in mountainous and midland areas, as well as potential water flow from upper Laos adding to flood risks in Vietnam.

“The deeper the storm moves into the East Sea, the stronger it becomes,” said Khiem. “Current models suggest a 70–80% likelihood that the storm will strike between Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa, potentially extending into the southern Red River Delta. That means heavy rain will mainly concentrate in northern coastal and midland areas."

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep warned that this is a dangerous storm as it is moving fast and gaining strength as it nears the coast.

“It’s completely different from recent super typhoon Ragasa, which weakened quickly before landfall. The biggest concern is that people might become complacent after Ragasa. That cannot happen this time,” he stressed.

He emphasised that Bualoi’s impact could stretch from Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh, and the storm may cause both wind and rain damage over a wide area, from the mountains to the lowlands.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued urgent directives to all coastal and inland provinces to proactively respond to Typhoon Bualoi. Accordingly, authorities must immediately contact and guide all vessels out of danger zones to ensure their safety. Depending on local conditions, provinces are advised to consider suspending all sea-based activities, including operations of fishing boats, transport vessels, and tourist cruises. In addition, safety measures must be put in place to protect tourists on islands and those involved in coastal aquaculture activities.

On land, localities are required to secure residential houses, trim tree branches, and take necessary actions to protect public infrastructure, including industrial zones, power lines, and telecommunications networks. Plans must be prepared for the evacuation of residents in low-lying, coastal, or landslide-prone areas. Furthermore, authorities should deploy checkpoints and guards at flooded areas, fast-flowing streams, and submerged roads to prevent people and vehicles from entering unsafe zones.

All provinces must ensure full readiness following the “Four-on-the-spot” principle, which involves having available local forces, supplies, equipment, and logistics. Efforts should also be made to maintain traffic flow and prepare contingency plans to close roads if necessary.

Lastly, local authorities must inspect the safety of dams and reservoirs, and actively prepare flood drainage systems to protect agricultural areas, industrial parks, and residential zones from inundation.

“We cannot afford to be slow or complacent. This is a fast, powerful storm with wide-ranging impacts. All sectors and localities must act early, act from a distance, and act decisively to protect lives and property,” said Deputy Minister Hiep.

Typhoon Bualoi approaches East Sea, heavy rain lashes regions

VOV.VN - Typhoon Bualoi is rapidly moving toward the East Sea and is expected to affect northern Vietnam in the coming days, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.