Chairing a meeting on September 26, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasised that the fast pace of the storm requires more urgent response measures at sea. He urged coastal provinces to hasten the withdrawal of vessels from hazardous areas and issue sea bans earlier, even 48 hours ahead of its landfall.
Hiep highlighted the need to ensure the safety of hydropower and irrigation dams, particularly in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, where operators were instructed to prepare early flood discharge plans in anticipation of heavy inflows. As the storm is expected to strike on the morning of September 29, he suggested localities consider school closures to safeguard students.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 13:00 on September 26, Bualoi was located over the central Philippines with sustained winds at level 11, gusting to level 14. The storm is forecast to make landfall in Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces on September 29 with winds of level 12, gusting to level 15, and may intensify further to level 13, gusting to level 16, between September 28 and 29.
Major General Pham Hai Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Search and Rescue under the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, said forces are fully prepared for a wide impact area, with vessels from Quang Ninh to Lam Dong urged to seek safe shelters. Plans are also in place to establish a forward command post in Military Zone 4 if required. The national emergency hotline 112 is operational, and localities were asked to disseminate it widely.
Pham Duc Luan, Director of the MAE’s Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, emphasised the urgent need to trim trees, reinforce homes, and secure critical infrastructure, including warehouses, offices, public facilities, industrial parks, power grids, and telecommunications. He also called for proactive planning to ensure rapid recovery and minimise disruption.
Luan further recommended early controlled flood releases, even at some risk, to ensure the safety of major hydropower dams.
