HANOI, VIETNAM – All eyes are on Super Typhoon BUALOI, a powerful and rapidly moving cyclone that is forecast to enter the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the Biển Đông) tonight, where it will be officially designated as the 10th major storm of the year to hit the region.
Meteorological agencies are issuing urgent warnings as the storm has intensified significantly over the Pacific. Current data indicates that BUALOI is packing sustained wind speeds near its center reaching Level 14-15 on the Vietnamese scale. This corresponds to approximately 150-183 kilometers per hour (93-114 miles per hour), equivalent to a strong Category 2 or low-end Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Even more alarming are the wind gusts, which have been recorded at above Level 17, meaning they can exceed 201 km/h (125 mph). This classifies BUALOI as an extremely dangerous and powerful storm system.
The Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has placed the storm on high alert. Its primary concern is the storm's rapid forward momentum and its potential to maintain or even increase its intensity as it moves over the warm waters of the South China Sea.
Coastal authorities from northern to central Vietnam have been instructed to monitor the storm's path closely and begin preparations. Urgent bulletins are being broadcast to thousands of fishing vessels, advising them to return to port immediately. Disaster response agencies are reviewing evacuation plans for coastal communities that lie in the typhoon's potential path.
The storm's current trajectory is still being finalized, but its immense power and speed make it a significant threat to any maritime activities in the South China Sea and a potential major danger to coastal regions in Southeast Asia early next week. All interests in the region are urged to stay updated with the latest official advisories.
