Hundreds of thousands evacuate as Vietnam braces for Typhoon Bualoi

As Typhoon Bualoi’s strengthening approach forces the government to shut down several airports, Vietnam has mobilized around 100 000 military personnel to assist 250 000 people in evacuating.

According to the meteorology agency, Bualoi, the 10th typhoon to hit Vietnam this year, is currently at sea, generating winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and is expected to make landfall later on Sunday.

“This storm moves quickly, moving at nearly twice the rate that it does,” with a strong impact and a wide area of impact. The agency claimed that it is capable of causing multiple natural disasters at once, including coastal flooding, flash floods, heavy rain, and powerful winds.

According to the government newspaper Viet Nam News, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has also demanded the country’s waters’ “highest level of readiness” as Bualoi entered.

Three Ho Chi Minh fishermen have vanished before the landfall, according to Viet Nam News, after one vessel sank and another was “disabled” by large waves off the coast of Quang Tri province. Eight others were saved.

According to the report, the two vessels were spotted stranded about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the Cua Viet Channel’s mouth.

More than 210, 000 residents of Da Nang, the country’s largest city, are being evacuated, according to state media, while more than 32, 000 Hue residents who live close to coastal areas are also expected to relocate to safer areas.

According to the AFP news agency, more than 15, 000 residents of Ha Tinh, a major steel production hub, are scheduled to leave for temporary accommodations in schools and medical facilities, according to authorities.

According to the VN Express news website, the city government mobilized more than 200 people using trucks, sacks, sand, bamboo stakes, and stone to protect the coastline.

Four domestic airports were reported to be closed, and all fishing vessels in the typhoon’s path were rerouted to harbor.

Additionally, it was required that residents of coastal regions secure their vessels.

“I’m a little anxious, but I’m still optimistic that things will turn out fine in the aftermath.” After the most recent Typhoon Kajiki, we were all in complete safety. Nguyen Cuong, a resident of Ha Tinh City, told AFP: “I hope this one will be the same or less severe.”

The Philippines was stricken by mudslides and flooding on Friday when Bualoi struck the country. 10 people have been killed, according to the most recent report from the Philippine media, and 10 are still missing.

According to scientists, as the world warms, the effects of climate change are getting stronger.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that in Vietnam, more than 100 people died or disappeared in the first seven months of 2025.

A tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay in July, causing the sudden thunderstorm to kill at least 37 people and leave five others missing.