Typhoon Bualoi Lashes Vietnam: One Dead, Several Missing, and Mass Evacuations Underway

Typhoon Bualoi has brought devastation to central Vietnam, resulting in one confirmed fatality, four individuals reported missing, and the evacuation of over 28,000 residents. The Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention reported the evacuations, which span multiple localities from Ninh Binh to Quang Ngai. Significant numbers of people were displaced, including nearly 7,000 in Thanh Hoa Province, more than 16,500 in Ha Tinh, and over 2,100 in Quang Tri. Initial damage assessments reveal the death of a woman in Hue, swept away by floodwaters, with her body later recovered. Authorities are also searching for four missing persons – three in Quang Tri and one in Da Nang. Eighty-six houses have suffered damage or had their roofs torn off. Da Nang, Phu Bai, Dong Hoi, and Tho Xuan airports have experienced flight disruptions, with 42 flights cancelled and 51 delayed. The typhoon’s eye was positioned off the coast between Quang Tri and Nghe An provinces, with landfall expected to bring powerful winds of 89-133 kph, gusting up to 150 kph. Coastal areas from northern Quang Tri to Thanh Hoa are anticipated to experience the strongest winds from late Sunday night into Monday morning. Hotels, restaurants, and tourist services were shut down in anticipation of the storm, and residents were moved from vulnerable zones in several beach areas. Heavy rainfall is forecast for the north-central provinces and northern Vietnam, with totals ranging from 200-350 mm and potentially exceeding 500 mm in certain areas. With major rivers rising, there is a heightened risk of severe flooding and widespread disruption. Residents are urged to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and adhere to evacuation orders as the typhoon makes landfall.