Viet Nam on highest alert as Typhoon Bualoi closes in

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired an online conference with provincial leaders in Thanh Hoa on the afternoon of September 28 to review urgent storm response as Typhoon Bualoi (locally known as Typhoon No. 10) nears landfall. Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang presided over the session at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment headquarters in Hanoi.

Expanded impact zone

Reporting from the Nghe An Military Command, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said the storm’s center was about 220 kilometers off Ha Tinh and 300 kilometers from Nghe An by early afternoon. Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh are expected to be the hardest hit. The typhoon has slowed compared with earlier forecasts, delaying landfall until late September 28 or early September 29.

Because the storm’s track has shifted northward, its impact zone is likely to expand, with Thanh Hoa facing more severe effects than initially projected. Strong winds are expected tonight in Ha Tinh and Nghe An, peaking around midnight. Ky Anh is particularly vulnerable to tornado-like gusts due to its exposed coastline. Gusts could reach level 14 in Ha Tinh and Nghe An and level 12-13 in Thanh Hoa between 4 and 5 a.m.

The storm’s slower speed also means a longer period of impact. High waves combined with tidal surges are raising the risk of severe flooding. Heavy rainfall concentrated in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An could trigger flash floods and landslides. Monitoring stations have already recorded winds at levels 7-8, with gusts of 9-10, at Con Co and Ly Son islands, and level 11 gusts in parts of Quang Binh. Initial reports list four people dead or missing and 76 houses damaged.

Search efforts intensified in Quang Tri

In light of the situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested that the government order Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa to complete evacuations of residents in high-risk areas and strictly prohibit people from returning to boats or fish cages overnight. Armed forces in Quang Tri are focusing on locating missing persons. Localities are implementing the “four on-the-spot” principle, local resources, leadership, manpower, and logistics, while ensuring the safety of dikes and reservoirs. Large reservoirs, in particular, must coordinate water releases carefully.

Senior Lieutenant General Huynh Chien Thang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, said the Ministry of Defense has mobilized nationwide forces, assigning clear responsibilities to agencies and units. Most provinces have completed mooring fishing boats and deployed personnel for round-the-clock response. Military inspection teams have visited key areas, while additional officers were dispatched this morning to coastal zones, schools, and vulnerable infrastructure. “Military forces are working closely with local authorities and stand ready for rescue missions in dangerous situations”, Thang emphasized.

So far, most provinces in the storm’s core impact zone have completed moving vessels to safe shelters and evacuating residents from coastal and landslide-prone areas. In Quang Tri, authorities rescued nine crew members from two distressed fishing boats off Cua Viet but are still searching for three missing fishermen. Reservoir management teams are also on standby for emergencies.

In Ha Tinh, authorities have prepared to relocate more than 6,700 households from Nghi Son to Ky Anh. Police, military, and border guard units are on 24-hour alert, assisting residents in reinforcing homes.

In Nghe An, authorities have carried out public information campaigns and inspections. Of more than 1,000 reservoirs, 937 are already at full capacity and have been inspected. Large reservoirs, such as Ban Ve, have begun releasing water in anticipation of heavy inflows. Contingency plans are in place for five high-risk dike sections. Evacuations are underway, drainage measures are being prepared, and security is being maintained. The Deputy Prime Minister praised Nghe An’s readiness but stressed the need for early flood warnings and for deploying forces to counter flash floods and landslides in the western highlands.

In Thanh Hoa, provincial leaders have sent inspection teams to 17 coastal communes. All vessels are docked safely. The transportation and construction sectors have doubled or tripled manpower and equipment to respond quickly to landslides and keep roads open. Task forces are stationed in mountainous areas prone to isolation.

In Hue, the city government has activated its storm response plan. On September 27, a tornado and heavy rain damaged dozens of homes and killed one person. Although conditions have since eased, the risk of localized downpours, flash floods, and landslides remains high.

Typhoon No. 10 expected to push inland

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha commended localities for their preparedness but warned that the storm’s current trajectory runs parallel to Viet Nam’s coastline. Landfall is most likely in Ha Tinh and Nghe An, with potential impacts extending north to Ninh Binh.

He cautioned that a nighttime landfall with sustained winds at levels 11-13 on the Beaufort scale, equivalent to 64-95 knots (74 - 110 mph), and powerful gusts poses extreme danger. He ordered all coastal preparations completed by 3 p.m. and overall storm readiness by 5 p.m. on September 28, emphasizing that evacuations must be carried out at the highest level without complacency. Prompt relocation of residents in the landfall zone, particularly in Ha Tinh and Nghe An, is essential.

Drawing on past experience, he noted that tidal surges of 1.5 - 2 meters combined with high waves could drive flooding deep inland, not just along the coast. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was also directed to issue warnings for areas outside the direct impact zone, where heavy rains are still expected. River levels in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, and Hue have already reached alert levels 1 and 2, underscoring the risks of flooding, landslides, and rising waters.

He stressed that central Viet Nam is also exposed to transboundary river basins, and the storm could linger inland for six to eight hours with dangerous winds. Authorities must remind residents not to underestimate the cyclone. Local governments were instructed to prioritize protecting lives and property, adhere to the “four on-the-spot” principle, assign forces to critical areas, and stockpile essential supplies to ensure isolated communities continue receiving support.