UPDATE: Vietnam is in full emergency mode as authorities mobilize 100,000 military personnel to assist in evacuating approximately 250,000 residents ahead of the imminent landfall of Typhoon Bualoi. The powerful storm, currently generating winds of 130 km/h (80 mph), is expected to make landfall later today, July 15, 2025, prompting significant disruptions across the nation.
As the government shuts down multiple airports and calls for the “highest level of readiness,” the storm poses severe risks, including potential flooding, landslides, and coastal inundation. The Vietnam Meteorology Agency warns that Bualoi is moving at nearly twice the average speed of tropical storms, heightening concerns about its impact.
In Da Nang, Vietnam’s largest city, officials are evacuating over 210,000 residents from vulnerable coastal areas. Additionally, more than 32,000 people in nearby Hue are being relocated to safer zones. The city of Ha Tinh, known for its steel production, is also preparing to shelter over 15,000 residents in schools and medical centers.
Authorities report that three fishermen from Ho Chi Minh City are missing after their vessel sank amid the storm’s intense waves off the coast of Quang Tri Province. Eight others were rescued, highlighting the immediate dangers posed by Typhoon Bualoi.
The impact of the storm is already being felt. Four domestic airports have been shut down, and all fishing boats in the storm’s path have been ordered back to harbor. Residents along the coast are securing their vessels as the storm approaches.
“I feel a bit anxious but still hopeful that everything will be fine in the aftermath,” said Nguyen Cuong, a 29-year-old Ha Tinh resident. “We were all safe after the recent typhoon Kajiki. I hope this one will be the same or less severe.”
Earlier reports indicate that Typhoon Bualoi battered the Philippines just days ago, causing mudslides and flooding that resulted in at least 10 fatalities and leaving others missing. Scientists are increasingly alarmed that climate change is intensifying storms like Bualoi.
In Vietnam, the toll of natural disasters has been significant. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that over 100 people were killed or missing due to disasters in the first seven months of 2025. Last year, Typhoon Yagi devastated northern Vietnam, causing economic losses of around $3.3 billion and hundreds of deaths.
As the situation continues to evolve, residents are urged to remain vigilant and follow official instructions. The government remains on high alert, with ongoing assessments of the storm’s trajectory and potential impacts.
Stay tuned for further updates as Typhoon Bualoi approaches Vietnam.
