Typhoon Bualoi slammed into Vietnam’s northern coastal province of Hà Tĩnh on Monday, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rain that have left widespread destruction across central and northern regions.

Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of residents, as the storm has already claimed at least one life, with 12 fishermen reported missing.

Bualoi is the tenth typhoon to strike Vietnam this year. The storm has ripped apart homes, torn off corrugated metal roofs, and toppled concrete utility poles, plunging more than 347,000 households into darkness. Meteorologists cautioned that although the storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland toward the mountainous provinces of Hà Tĩnh and Nghệ An, heavy rains forecast through October 1 could unleash severe flooding and landslides.

In anticipation of the storm’s destructive path, authorities have mounted one of the country’s largest evacuation efforts of the year. In Đà Nẵng, more than 210,000 people are being relocated to safer ground, while Huế city is evacuating more than 32,000 residents from coastal areas. In Hà Tĩnh alone, more than 15,000 people have been moved into schools and health centers repurposed as temporary shelters.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has suspended operations at four coastal airports, including Đà Nẵng International Airport, disrupting dozens of flights. Meanwhile, more than 117,000 soldiers have been deployed to assist with evacuations, reinforce flood defenses, and support search-and-rescue operations. All fishing boats along the typhoon’s projected path have been ordered back to port.

Bualoi’s devastation extends beyond Vietnam. In the Philippines, where the typhoon first made landfall late last week, at least 20 people have been killed—mostly from drowning and falling trees—while more than 23,000 families were forced into 1,400 emergency shelters. The storm also caused extensive power outages across central provinces.

Bualoi is the second major storm to hammer Asia in less than a week. Just days earlier, Typhoon Ragasasa left at least 28 people dead after sweeping across the northern Philippines, Taiwan, China, and parts of northern Vietnam.

Located along the South China Sea, Vietnam is frequently exposed to tropical cyclones forming east of the Philippines. Authorities say they remain on high alert as Bualoi pushes further inland, warning of the heightened risk of flash floods and landslides in both coastal and mountainous regions.

Government officials have urged residents to follow safety protocols and remain vigilant, stressing that rapidly changing weather conditions could lead to further disruptions in the coming days. (ILKHA)ILKHA)