Typhoon Bualoi to hit Vietnam during high tide, driving waves up to 7 meters

At a national emergency meeting on Saturday, forecasters said the typhoon lay centered about 300 km from the Paracel Islands at noon, packing sustained winds of 103–133 kph. Moving west-northwest at 35 kph, the storm is expected to be off the coast of Quang Tri–Quang Ngai by Sunday morning, around 120 km from Hue.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep warned that Bualoi is unusually dangerous, combining rapid movement, strengthening intensity, strong southwest monsoon winds and moisture from the Bay of Bengal.

"When the storm is 200 km offshore, it can carry wind speeds up to 166 kph. On landfall, winds will still be up to 133 kph, with coastal gusts at up to 149 kph. Its impact will extend beyond central Vietnam to both the north and south," Hiep said.

He added the greatest risk is that the storm will strike during high tide between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Monday. With a tidal range of 4 m and a storm surge of 2 m, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An could see sea levels rise even higher, creating destructive 5–7 m waves directly battering dikes, aquaculture farms and coastal neighborhoods.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha compared Bualoi to Typhoon Kajiki, which struck Thanh Hoa–Ha Tinh in late August, but stressed that this storm is far more dangerous.

"It is moving at 35–40 kph, very fast, recharging over the sea after crossing the Philippines. It will certainly make landfall in Vietnam," he said, urging localities to speed up preparations.

The National Steering Committee ordered provinces to ban all vessels from going to sea before noon Saturday, with no fishing activity allowed after 5 p.m. By 5 p.m. Sunday, evacuations in high-risk areas must be completed.

"Do not wait until dinner time. Once strong winds begin at 7 p.m. tomorrow, it will be too late," Hiep said.

The Border Guard Command has already guided nearly 68,000 vessels with 286,000 crew into safe harbors. Only 143 boats remain near the Paracels, but they have been warned and are leaving.

The Ministry of National Defense has mobilized Military Regions 3, 4, and 5 along with the navy, air force, coast guard and engineering units.

More than 240,000 troops and 4,000 vehicles are on standby in the projected impact zone, ready to support evacuations, reinforce dikes, harvest crops and conduct rescues by land, sea and air.

Authorities warned that flood defenses from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri are at high risk. Weak sections in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri have been ordered to be reinforced immediately. Emergency dike-protection plans must be in place if the storm peaks during high tide.

Reservoirs in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh have been told to operate under inter-reservoir rules to prevent flooding downstream. But several dams are already full, raising safety concerns. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is overseeing hydropower operators to release water safely.

Telecommunications firms pledged to maintain service, with roaming backup systems ready if one network fails. In Ha Tinh, which is expected to take a direct hit, officials said they have learned from Typhoon Kajiki’s widespread blackouts and will safeguard power and communications, as well as suspend classes if necessary.

Bualoi is the 10th storm in the South China Sea this year, following nine earlier storms and four tropical depressions. The most recent, Super Typhoon Ragasa, weakened into a tropical depression before reaching Vietnam, causing no damage. But officials warn Bualoi is different: fast-moving, intensifying, and set to collide with Vietnam during its peak strength.