Vietnam shuts airports, evacuates thousands as Typhoon Bualoi nears landfall | The Express Tribune

Vietnam closed airports and evacuated thousands of people in potentially affected areas on Sunday as intensifying Typhoon Bualoi barrelled towards the country, days after causing at least 10 deaths and widespread flooding in the Philippines.

The typhoon, which was packing wind speeds of up to 133kmh (83 mph) as of 0200 GMT, is expected to make landfall in central Vietnam late on Sunday, earlier than previous forecasts as it was travelling fast, according to Vietnam’s national weather forecast agency.

“This is a rapidly moving storm – nearly twice the average speed – with strong intensity and a broad area of impact. It is capable of triggering multiple natural disasters simultaneously, including powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides, and coastal inundation,” the agency added.

Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh have started to evacuate more than 15,000 people, the government said, adding thousands of troops were standing ready.

Vietnam suspended operations at four coastal airports from Sunday, including Danang international airport, and adjusted the departure time of several flights, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

Read: Typhoon Kajiki lashes Vietnam

Heavy rain has already caused flooding in Hue and Quang Tri, the government said.

With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion of property damage.

The latest storm made landfall in Eastern Samar, in the central Philippines, before crossing into Masbate and sweeping through the Bicol region in the southern part of the country’s biggest island Luzon.

Disaster officials said three of the fatalities were in Masbate province. One was hit by a falling tree, another drowned, while the third was killed when a wall collapsed.

Seven others died in the central Philippines following flash floods and storm surges triggered by the storm, the Office of the Civil Defence said.

Masbate Governor Antonio Kho, in a media briefing, appealed for immediate assistance from the central government, citing the urgent need to clear debris, restore power and reopen ports to allow the delivery of aid.

Read more: Vietnam evacuates thousands, shuts airports as Typhoon Bualoi nears

In August, Vietnam’s central belt was lashed by Typhoon Kajiki, with at least one person killed by deluges and gales howling more than 130 kilometres per hour, as tens of thousands of residents were evacuated from the path of the tempest.

The typhoon — the fifth to affect Vietnam this year, making Typhoon Bualoi the sixth one, roiled the Gulf of Tonkin with waves of up to 9.5 metres (31 feet) before hitting shore around 3:00 pm (0800 GMT).

Nearly 44,000 people were evacuated from the region as 16,000 military personnel were mobilised and all fishing boats in the typhoon’s path were called back to harbour.