Storm Bualoi may strike central Vietnam with strength rivaling storm Kajiki

The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said on Saturday morning that Bualoi is moving unusually fast at 30-35 kilometers per hour, nearly double the average speed of storms in the East Vietnam Sea.

Bualoi is expected to intensify as it nears the coast, bringing a wide area of strong winds, heavy rain, floods, flash floods, landslides, and coastal inundation.

The fast-moving storm swept across the central Philippines and southern Luzon on Friday, leaving at least 10 dead and prompting the evacuation of over 433,000 people from landslide- and flood-prone areas.

At 7:00 am on Saturday, Bualoi’s center was about 480 kilometers east-southeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Special Zone, with maximum sustained winds of levels 11-12 (103-133 kph), gusting up to level 15 (167-183 kph).

The storm is projected to strengthen to levels 12-13 (118-149 kph), gusts up to level 16 (184-201 kph) by Sunday morning before striking central Vietnam later that day.

Storm surges of 1-2 meters are forecast along the coast from Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh, with Thanh Hoa and Nghe An facing the highest risks.

From September 28-30, widespread rainfall of 100-300 millimeters is expected in northern and north-central provinces, with local totals exceeding 600 millimeters.

Major rivers in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri are forecast to rise to alarm levels two or three, raising the threat of flooding, flash floods, and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas.

Storm Kajiki, the fifth storm to hit the East Vietnam Sea this year, caused an estimated VND2.9 trillion (US$109 million) in damages across north-central and northern provinces, particularly Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Kajiki made landfall in Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh on August 25, leaving nine people dead or missing, and another 77 injured.

Kajiki also damaged more than 38,600 homes, destroyed 510, and left 411 schools in disrepair.

Over 104,000 hectares of rice, 17,200 hectares of crops, and 11,700 hectares of forest were devastated.

More than 154,000 livestock and poultry perished, 8,000 hectares of aquaculture were flooded, and 102 fishing boats were sunk or damaged.