Typhoon Bualoi nears central Vietnam’s coast

Weather radar images from the national meteorological agency showed that at 9:30 p.m., the eye of the storm was approaching Ngang Pass and Vung Chua (Quang Tri). Within the next 1–2 hours, it is expected to make landfall in Ha Tinh and Quang Tri before moving further inland into Nghe An. Maximum sustained winds remain at 133 kph (level 12), with gusts up to level 15.

The eye of the storm nears the Ngang Pass area. Photo courtesy of the National Meteorological Agency

Ha Tinh Power Company reported that due to the storm, several areas experienced localized power outages from the afternoon to evening of Sept. 28. All staff and employees of the company and its subsidiaries have been placed on full standby, and once the storm passes, they will quickly inspect and fix the problems.

In Thien Cam Commune, formerly part of Cam Xuyen District, power went out in the evening. Several neighborhoods in Thanh Sen Ward, formerly part of Ha Tinh City, also reported outages after 9 p.m.

Thien Cam Commune in Ha Tinh Province experienced a power outage from early evening on Sept. 28. Photo by Duc Hung

Staff from Ha Tinh Power Company inspect and work on handling outages on the evening of Sept. 28. Photo by Duc Hung

Heavy rain and strong gusts in downtown Quang Tri toppled rows of trees along Quang Trung and Nguyen Du streets, blocking traffic. Several residential areas have lost power. Local authorities urged residents to stay indoors during the storm and check their electrical systems.

Nguyen Thi Thuan, a resident of Dong Thuan Ward whose corrugated iron roof rattled violently in the wind, said that while she has lived through many central Vietnam storms, the current winds did not yet seem as strong as in previous typhoons.

A large tree uprooted on a downtown street in Dong Hoi. Photo by Minh Anh

About 70 km away, the Vung Chua – Yen Island area suddenly fell calm after more than an hour of fierce gusts. As the rain eased, some residents went outside with flashlights to inspect the surroundings, finding downed power poles and roofs blown off.

Hundreds of residents from Dan Hai Commune, formerly part of Nghi Xuan District in Ha Tinh Province, who had been evacuated, shared a hot dinner prepared by commune officials, teachers, and youth union members. "Being brought to a solid shelter and served proper meals eases our worries as the storm hits," said Nguyen Thi Lan, 62, a Dan Hai resident.

Teachers prepare free meals for residents evacuated from Typhoon Bualoi on the evening of Aug. 29. Photo by Hung Le

Ahead of the storm’s landfall, the commune evacuated 270 households with 568 people to schools, prioritizing the elderly, the sick, and children. At the evacuation sites, authorities mobilized forces to cook meals and provide essential supplies and drinking water free of charge, said Tran Quynh Thao, chairman of Dan Hai Commune.

Evacuated residents have dinner at a shelter. Photo by Hung Le

In mountainous Phuc Trach Commune, fearing heavy rain could cause landslides and flooding, Ban Giang Border Guard Station and local authorities evacuated seven households with 20 Chut ethnic residents from Rao Tre Village to the community center, where they were also provided with free meals.

Residents of Rao Tre Village receive free meals from border guards while sheltering from the storm. Photo by Duc Hung

Heavy rain and upstream floods have left several areas in southern Quang Tri isolated. On National Highway 15D and the Ho Chi Minh Road leading to La Lay International Border Gate in La Lay Commune, traffic has been halted as a spillway bridge was submerged by more than 50 cm of water.

A landslide blocks National Highway 14 through A Lieng Village in Ta Rut Commune. Photo by Vo Thach

In Dakrong Commune, the Ly Ton spillway bridge was inundated by more than 2 meters, while the Chan Ro and Da Do spillways were 1–1.5 meters underwater, making them impassable.

In A Vao Commune, the spillways from Ta Rut to A Vao, from A Vao to La Lay, and from A Vao Village to Tan Di 2 Village were all submerged, with water levels 0.5–0.8 meters above the bridges, blocking traffic.

Border guards in A Vao escorted two pregnant women from Tan Di 2 and Tan Di 3 villages in Ta Rut Commune to Dakrong Medical Center to await delivery. Photo by Vo Thach

Border guards in A Vao helped evacuate two pregnant women from Tan Di 2 and Tan Di 3 villages in Ta Rut Commune to the Dakrong Medical Center to await delivery. Authorities said the early evacuation was necessary to ensure their safety before rising floodwaters completely cut off access.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspected Typhoon Bualoi preparedness at the Ky Phuong storm shelter and anchorage area in Hoanh Son Ward, formerly part of Ky Anh Town in Ha Tinh Province.

Acknowledging the decisive actions of local authorities in evacuating residents, arranging temporary shelters, and implementing response measures, the Deputy PM urged them to closely monitor developments, forecast scenarios, and always put the safety of people’s lives above all else.

Visiting an evacuation site in Song Tri Ward, he assured evacuees that local authorities and forces would take full care of their living conditions, encouraging them to remain calm as the storm makes landfall.

According to reports, Song Tri Ward has evacuated 1,117 people from danger zones and arranged food, lodging, and daily needs so residents can feel secure while sheltering. Authorities have also mobilized forces to reinforce homes and safeguard property.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha visits evacuees in Song Tri Ward on the evening of Sept. 28. Photo by Hung Anh

Ha Tinh’s Department of Construction announced that starting from 7 p.m., all people and vehicles were prohibited from crossing the Cua Hoi Bridge linking Nghe An and Ha Tinh for safety as the storm approaches. The managing unit, 478 JSC, has erected barriers, deployed round-the-clock warning staff, and set up traffic diversions from afar, strictly banning vehicles from traveling across the bridge under hazardous weather conditions.

Vung Chua – Yen Island in Phu Trach Commune, located about 2 km north of Ngang Pass, lost power, leaving only the faint glow of solar-powered lamps. On National Highway 1, traffic was sparse, with cars slowing as they faced strong gusts and heavy rain. Water from the mountains flowed down onto several sections of the road, flooding some areas up to 30 cm deep.

Although the storm’s center was still about 50 km away, corrugated roofs rattled under howling winds. Residents stayed indoors, with some families living in one-story houses moving to neighbors’ homes with sturdier, concrete roofs.

Vehicles pass through a flooded section of National Highway 1 in Vung Chua – Yen Island, where power has been cut. Photo by Dac Thanh

 

 

Typhoon Bualoi nears central Vietnam’s coast

Xe cộ đi lại trong gió giật ở Vũng Chùa- Đảo Yến

The Traffic Police Department announced that to ensure safety during the storm’s landfall, the expressway section from Nghi Son Interchange (Thanh Hoa) to Vung Ang Interchange (Ha Tinh) will be closed from 11 p.m. tonight until 4 a.m. tomorrow.

Residents and drivers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly, exit the expressway to find safe shelter, and resume travel only after the storm has passed.

The Ha Tinh Meteorological Station reported that prolonged heavy rain on Sept. 28 could push flood levels on upstream rivers to alert level 2–3, and to level 1–2 downstream. There is a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas, residential zones, and riverside urban centers, as well as flash floods and landslides on slopes and along the coast. The disaster risk level has been raised to level 2.

The Lam River at Ben Thuy II Bridge, on the border of Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces, on the evening of Sept. 28. Photo by Duc Hung

According to the Nghe An Meteorological Station, Typhoon Bualoi has strengthened to level 12 with gusts at level 15, continuing to move quickly toward the north-central coast. The storm may make landfall during high tide, with large waves combining to overtop, breach or erode sea dikes and inundate low-lying residential areas.

Waves over 2 meters high crash onto Cua Lo Beach in Nghe An Province on the evening of Sept. 28. Photo by Duc Hung

From tonight until Sept. 30, Nghe An is forecast to see very heavy rainfall: 150–300 mm in coastal plains and midland areas, with some places exceeding 450 mm; 150–250 mm in the mountains, with some areas topping 350 mm. There is an extreme risk of flash floods, landslides, widespread flooding, and major disruptions to transportation routes.