The Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control and the National Committee for Search and Rescue yesterday warned sub-units in coastal provinces from northern Quang Ninh to central Phu Yen and relevant ministries of approaching storm Utor, which was due to sweep into the Northeast area of the East Sea today.

Workers clean up after a tree was uprooted in Thai Binh. More severe weather is expected to wreck havoc on northern provinces in the next few days.  

The storm was reported to be very strong, moving fast and potentially dangerous.

The recipients were urged to take every effort to inform ship owners operating in their localities of the storm's progress and to proactively take preventative measures.

They were also asked to track ships' operations at sea, strictly control departures and keep in regular contract with offshore operators. In addition, rescue teams were to be readied for emergencies and shift-organised were to regularly report to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control and the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat led a ministerial delegation to the northern province of Bac Ninh on Saturday, where they inspected and supervised the progress of the flood and storm prevention work in the province.

While meeting local authorities, Phat asked them to keep abreast of the storm's development and prepare sufficient numbers of staff, equipment and vehicles to be ready for any emergencies.

The province is now working to shore up damaged dykes, put warning signs in place and divert traffic from dangerous spots.

Due to the storm, Bac Ninh has witnessed continuous rain in recent days, submerging nearly 4,600 hectares of crops.

Meanwhile, in the northern province of Ha Nam, Day River water levels had reportedly rose alarmingly over the weekend, according to the provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control.

At 6am yesterday, the water level in Phu Ly City was recorded at 3.96m - just 14cm below the third warning level.

This was the highest water level recorded since the 2008 floods in late October and early December.

Flood prevention work had been reported as making steady progress in the city to ensure the 50km-long dyke system along the Day River held firm.

Workers had been assigned to patrol the dyke system 24 hours a day.

Residents living in affected areas including Kim Bang and Thanh Liem districts and Phu Ly City had received regular updates on the flood and evacuation plans remained in place.

Deputy director of the Ha Nam Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Dat said the dyke system along the Day River had some weak spots due to design flaws.

To cope, the local rescue team was focusing its efforts towards flood prevention, considering the high water level on the river Day, the approaching storm and a tropical depression at sea.

In northern Lao Cai Province, the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Rescue in Lao Cai Province's Bat Xat District yesterday said it had found the body of a 52-year-old man who lived in the province.

The man was found in the Red River in the Van Yen District of neighbouring Yen Bai Province, 80 km from the spot where he was reportedly swept away by the flood.

According to the National Centre for Hydro - Meteorological Forecasting, the Utor Storm was yesterday approaching the East Sea and could get stronger. By 1pm today, the maximum sustained wind is forecast to be moving at 46 km per hour.

The tropical depression at sea is also forecast to cause heavy rain in Southern provinces and the Central Highlands.

Source: VNS