Hanoi: Vietnam has evacuated thousands of residents and suspended operations at several coastal airports as Typhoon Bualoi advances toward the country’s central region. The storm, which made its way across the Philippines causing at least 10 deaths and widespread damage, is expected to make landfall late Sunday or early Monday.

According to Vietnam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Typhoon Bualoi is moving faster than the average storm in the region, with maximum sustained winds recorded at 133 km/h. Authorities warn that the typhoon could intensify further before striking the coast. Heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, and storm surges pose a serious threat across central and northern provinces.

The central province of Ha Tinh has already relocated over 15,000 people from high-risk areas. Flooding has been reported in Hue and Quang Tri, while sea travel has been banned across multiple coastal provinces. Airports in Danang and other central cities have suspended operations as a precaution.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed local authorities to take urgent measures to safeguard lives and property. Provinces from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa have been ordered to reinforce homes, schools, and hospitals, secure flood defenses, and ensure readiness of emergency supplies. Ministries of transport, health, and public security have been instructed to coordinate evacuation and rescue operations.

Meteorologists predict widespread rainfall between 100 and 300 millimeters across affected regions, with localized downpours potentially exceeding 600 millimeters. Mountainous districts are at heightened risk of flash floods and landslides.

The typhoon, known locally as “Opong” when it passed through the Philippines, displaced more than 400,000 people there and left extensive flooding in its wake. Vietnamese authorities are bracing for similar impacts as the storm approaches the densely populated central coast.

With flooding already underway in some provinces and the storm expected to strengthen before landfall, the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical for Vietnam’s disaster response and relief operations.