Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep has warned that Storm No. 10 (Bualoi) is large in scale and could bring prolonged rains and strong winds stretching from Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh. He emphasized the need for early and distant proactive response.

On the afternoon of September 26, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep chaired a meeting to deploy tasks assigned to the Ministry by the National Civil Defense Steering Committee regarding the response to Storm No. 10 (Bualoi).

At the meeting, Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, presented forecasts and early warnings for the approaching storm.

According to current projections, from September 28 to 30, the North, Thanh Hoa, and Quang Tri provinces are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Rainfall could also extend into northern Laos.

The storm is moving at an average speed of 30 km/h - twice as fast as most other storms. Its maximum intensity could reach Category 13 with gusts up to Category 15. Upon landfall, it may be as strong or stronger than Storm No. 5 (Kajiki), which reached Category 11 with gusts up to Category 14, and could potentially hit Category 12 with gusts at Category 15.

Heavy rainfall is expected in the northern provinces, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and northern Quang Tri, depending on the storm’s path between September 28-30, which is influenced by a subtropical high-pressure system.

Alongside heavy rain, rivers from northern Vietnam through Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri may experience flooding. Water levels could reach Flood Alert Levels 1-2, and in some places even surpass Alert Level 3.

Given the complexity of Storm No. 10’s developments, all members of the Steering Committee agreed that a proactive and prepared approach is essential to minimize damage.

Do not be complacent - respond early and from afar

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep stressed that the storm is moving extremely fast and becomes stronger as it nears the shore, in contrast to Storm No. 9, which weakened near land.

"The impact zone of Storm No. 10 is very wide, with rain and strong winds potentially lasting from Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh. Historically, two consecutive storms tend to cause significant damage. I’m most concerned that people will be complacent after Storm No. 9 weakened quickly. That’s why we must remain alert and start preparing early and from a distance," he warned.

According to Deputy Minister Hiep, the projected impact area is the North Central region, which is highly vulnerable due to continuous storms and flooding, and is still recovering from the effects of Storm No. 3. He called on authorities to inform all vessels and fishing boats to quickly evacuate high-risk areas.

He added, "It’s not necessary for boats to return to shore. They can head to alternative safe zones. The timing of sea bans must be calculated earlier, as the storm moves fast and its impact area is wide."

As of the evening of September 26, Storm Bualoi had entered the eastern waters of the central South China Sea and officially became Storm No. 10 of 2025. At 7 PM, its center was located about 900 km southeast of the Hoang Sa Archipelago. Maximum sustained winds near the center reached Category 11-12 (103-133 km/h), with gusts up to Category 15. The storm was moving west-northwest at 30-35 km/h.

Deputy Minister Hiep instructed affected localities to thoroughly review all coastal and onshore fishing and aquaculture activities, especially tourism within the storm's projected path. He urged relocation efforts to be completed before 9 PM on September 28 and recommended considering school closures to ensure the safety of students when the storm hits.

Additionally, Hiep emphasized the need to inspect hydroelectric and irrigation dams to calculate discharge plans ahead of the storm.

Authorities must prepare forces, equipment, vehicles, and essential supplies based on the “four-on-the-spot” principle (on-site command, forces, means, and logistics) to handle all possible scenarios. Every effort must be made to avoid loss of life due to carelessness or complacency. A 24/7 monitoring and emergency response system must be established to track the disaster and coordinate response efforts.

Bao Anh