Vietnam closed airports and began mass evacuations on Sunday as Typhoon Bualoi, intensifying rapidly, advanced towards its central coast. The storm arrives just days after leaving at least 10 people dead and causing severe flooding in the Philippines.
According to Vietnam’s national weather forecast agency, Bualoi was packing winds of up to 133 km/h (83 mph) as of 0200 GMT. Travelling at nearly twice the average speed of storms in the region, it is now expected to make landfall in central Vietnam earlier than first predicted, late on Sunday.
“This is a rapidly moving storm — nearly twice the average speed — with strong intensity and a broad area of impact. It is capable of triggering multiple natural disasters simultaneously, including powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides, and coastal inundation,” the agency warned.
In anticipation of the storm, authorities in Ha Tinh province have evacuated more than 15,000 people, with thousands of troops on standby for emergency operations. The Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of operations at four coastal airports, including Danang International Airport, and adjusted the schedules of several flights.
Heavy rain has already caused flooding in the central provinces of Hue and Quang Tri, the government said.
Vietnam, with its extensive coastline along the South China Sea, is frequently battered by deadly storms. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed around 300 people and inflicted an estimated $3.3 billion in property damage.
Melissa Enoch
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