Vietnam evacuated thousands of people from its central and northern provinces on Sunday as Typhoon Bualoi raced toward the country faster than expected and made landfall in the early hours of Monday.
The storm came ashore in the northern coastal province of Ha Tinh. Forecasters said it would move inland before weakening as it pushed northwest toward the hilly regions of Ha Tinh and neighbouring Nghe An.
Bualoi has already left at least 20 people dead in the central Philippines since Friday, mostly from drownings and falling trees. The typhoon also knocked out power in several towns and cities, officials said, forcing about 23,000 families to evacuate to more than 1,400 emergency shelters.
In Vietnam, the typhoon was expected to bring winds of up to 133 kph (83 mph), storm surges of more than a meter (3.2 feet), and heavy rains that could trigger flash floods and landslides. State media reported that more than 347,000 families had lost power because of the storm. Strong gusts ripped off corrugated iron roofs along the highway and toppled concrete pillars.
In Phong Nha commune, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Dong Hoi, residents described “terrible gusts” of wind and pounding rain. “No one dares to go out,” said Le Hang, a resident, to state media VNExpress.
Authorities have grounded fishing boats in the northern and central regions and ordered evacuations. State media reported that the coastal city of Da Nang planned to relocate more than 210,000 people, while Hue to its north prepared to move more than 32,000 coastal residents to safer ground.
Heavy rains have drenched central provinces since Saturday night. In Hue, floods have swamped low-lying streets, storms have ripped off roofs, and at least one person was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters.
In neighbouring Quang Tri province, a fishing boat sank and another was stranded while seeking shelter. Nine people have been rescued, while efforts are underway to reach two others at sea, according to state media.
Tragically, a 16-year-old was killed Sunday in the province by electrocution during heavy rain and strong winds. He was travelling with a friend on a village road when the accident happened.
The storm is likely to move slowly, bringing longer periods of wind and rain and raising the risks of damage and flooding. Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, told a government newspaper that forecasters warned of more heavy rain through October 1, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides in northern and central provinces.
Typhoon Bualoi is the second major storm to threaten Asia in a week. Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest in years, left at least 28 deaths in the northern Philippines and Taiwan before making landfall in China and dissipating Thursday over Vietnam.
Experts note that global warming is making storms like Bualoi stronger and wetter. Warmer oceans provide tropical storms with more fuel, driving more intense winds, heavier rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia.
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