UPDATE: Vietnam is in a state of emergency as authorities mobilize 100,000 military personnel to evacuate 250,000 residents ahead of the anticipated landfall of Typhoon Bualoi. With winds reaching up to 130 km/h (80 mph), this powerful storm is expected to hit the coast later today, August 15, 2025, prompting airport closures and widespread safety measures.
The government has shut down four airports and ordered all fishing vessels in the typhoon’s path to return to harbor. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for the “highest level of readiness” as the storm approaches, according to the state-run Viet Nam News.
In Da Nang, Vietnam’s largest city, officials are evacuating over 210,000 residents, while more than 32,000 people in the nearby coastal city of Hue are also being moved to safer locations. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and medical centers throughout the region.
Residents are feeling the intense pressure of the impending storm.
“I feel a bit anxious but still hopeful that everything will be fine in the aftermath,”
said Nguyen Cuong, a 29-year-old resident of Ha Tinh City. “We were all safe after the recent typhoon Kajiki. I hope this one will be the same or less severe.”
Tragically, Typhoon Bualoi is not the first disaster to impact the region this year. Just days ago, the storm battered the Philippines, resulting in 10 fatalities and leaving others missing. The increasing frequency and intensity of storms have raised alarms among scientists, who cite climate change as a significant factor.
In response to the storm, local governments are taking proactive measures. In Ha Tinh, authorities have mobilized over 200 personnel to reinforce the coastline using trucks, sand, and bamboo stakes. The urgency of the situation is palpable as the region braces for potential flooding, landslides, and coastal inundation.
Earlier today, reports surfaced that three fishermen from Ho Chi Minh City have gone missing after their vessel sank off the coast of Quang Tri province due to large waves. As the situation develops, rescue operations are ongoing amid growing concerns for their safety.
Vietnam has already faced devastating losses this year, with over 100 fatalities attributed to natural disasters in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The economic toll from disasters like Typhoon Yagi, which struck in September 2024, amounted to $3.3 billion in damages.
As Typhoon Bualoi continues to approach, the government and citizens are on high alert. Authorities are urging everyone in affected areas to secure their homes and heed evacuation orders. The next few hours will be critical as the storm makes its way toward landfall, and updates will be provided as the situation evolves.
Stay tuned for live updates on this developing story as Vietnam braces for the impact of Typhoon Bualoi.
