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The movement of Storm Molave (Photo: The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting) |
He added that the storm, the ninth in the East Sea this year, said to be the strongest in 20 years, will move deeper inland during the day before weakening.
The centre said strong wind at 74km per hour was measured at Binh Chau (Quang Ngai province) in the morning of October 28. Localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Phu Yen are being blanketed by heavy rains at 70-155mm.
The storm is forecast to move west-northwest at 25km per hour until 4pm October 28, packing winds of up to 149km per hour, with gusts of up to 183 km per hour, then weakening into a tropical low pressure system.
Coastal areas from Thua Thien-Hue to Phu Yen will see winds of 117 to 149 km per hour with gusts of up to 149km per hour, while inland areas will be hit by winds of 102km per hour with gusts of 133km per hour.
Phu Yen province reported that more than 44,200 people had been evacuated as of 8pm October 27.
The military has mobilized nearly 250,000 troops and 2,300 vehicles for search and rescue missions.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, has been directing preparatory work before the storm in central localities.
Evacuation from vulnerable areas urged as Storm Molave approaches
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on October 27 urged the prompt evacuation of residents from coastal, low-lying, tourism, and landslide-prone areas in the central region as Storm Molave is forecast to make landfall on the morning of October 28.
At a meeting in central Da Nang city, the Deputy PM, who is also head of the steering committee for the Storm Molave response, asked authorities to instruct residents on how to reinforce houses, schools, hospitals, and offices, while calling for people to prepare food and essential goods in anticipation of prolonged flooding.
Stressing the goal of safeguarding lives and property, he also requested relevant forces take measures to ensure the safety of electricity, communications, and traffic systems, ready personnel and equipment for responding to any incidents, and protect reservoirs, dams, and sea embankments.
At 1pm on October 27, Storm Molave was about 470 km away from the coast of Quang Ngai province and moving west-northwest at about 20-25 km/h.
Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, said this is the most intense storm to hit the country in about 20 years, and when making landfall is predicted to be as strong as Storm Xangsane and much stronger than Storm Damrey, which wreaked havoc in the country in 2006 and 2017, respectively.
Localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Phu Yen have been reportedly evacuating more than 448,000 people and plan to complete the task by 7 pm on October 27. In popular tourist destinations like Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province and Quy Nhon in Binh Binh province, local authorities have also briefed visitors on the storm and contingency plans.
General Director of the Disaster Management Authority Tran Quang Hoai said that as of 11 am on October 27, about 45,000 vessels with 229,290 seamen on board had been informed of the situation and sought guidance on safe shelter.
Officials from Military Region 5 affirmed their readiness to mobilise 66,000 personnel and 1,700 vehicles in response to Storm Molave, adding that other military units and forces could also be deployed if necessary./.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers issue statement on floods, landslides in Southeast Asia
ASEAN Foreign Ministers on October 27 issued a statement on recent floods and landslides that caused huge losses of life and property in Southeast Asian nations.
In the statement, the ministers expressed their profound sympathy and condolences over huge losses of life and property as well as negative impacts caused by floods and landslides on people’s lives in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Thailand.
ASEAN affirmed solidarity with the governments and people of the affected countries, saying that the bloc is willing to provide them with necessary support in this difficult time./.
Storm Molave sees airports shut down in central region
With Storm Molave fast approaching the coast, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to close Chu Lai, Phu Cat, Da Nang, and Tuy Hoa airports from 6pm on October 27 to 4 pm the following day.
Pleiku Airport in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai will also be closed, from 9pm on October 27 to 7pm on October 28, the CAAV said.
Relevant agencies have been asked to keep a close watch on the impact of the storm on Dong Hoi and Cam Ranh airports in the central and south-central region, Buon Me Thuot and Lien Khuong airports in the Central Highlands, and others in the south, in order to propose suitable operational plans.
The CAAV has asked its units to work around the clock and urged the implementation of plans to minimise losses at airports from torrential rain and flooding.
Earlier, airlines such as national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways announced adjustments to flight timetables given the approaching storm.
Notably, Vietnam Airlines has cancelled all 104 flights to and from Vinh, Dong Hoi, Phu Bai, Da Nang, Chu Lai, Phu Cat, Pleiku, and Tuy Hoa airports, while Pacific Airlines has cancelled six flights between HCM City and Da Nang and two between HCM City and Phu Cat.
The Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA) has also dispatched two working groups to the region to monitor local response efforts.
VMA units have kept a close watch on the development of the storm in order to guide vessels around dangerous areas and put forth plans to ensure the safety of vessels under their management.
The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), meanwhile, has decided to suspend certain north-south trains from October 27 and has adjusted timetables for several sections.
A representative from VNR said passengers who have booked tickets can exchange them or seek a refund.
Storm Molave, the ninth of the year and the fourth within a month, is forecast to make landfall in the middle of Vietnam, from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoa province, with heavy rains and winds of up to 133 km/h on the night of October 27, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
It is expected that, by 4 am on October 28, the storm’s eye will be right over Vietnam’s coastline, from Da Nang city to Phu Yen province, with maximum winds of 165 km/h.
Torrential downpours will blanket central localities from October 27 to 29. Flooding is forecast for lagoons and low-lying areas from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai provinces.
The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said Molave is as strong as Storm Damrey, which struck in 2017 and left 123 people dead or missing and caused damage of 22 trillion VND (951.45 million USD).
Airlines adjust schedules due to Storm Molave
Many domestic flights have been delayed or cancelled as Storm Molave, the ninth of this year and the fourth within a month, is forecast to make a landfall in the central region on October 27 night.
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said it has adjusted schedules of flights to and from Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Tuy Hoa, Gia Lai, Buon Me Thuot, Quy Nhon, Da Lat and Khanh Hoa on the day.
It suggested passengers stay updated on weather conditions as well as flight information.
Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways said it has cancelled Flight QH17 from HCM City to Da Nang, and suspend all of the flights to the central city as from 7pm on October 27 until further notice.
Many flights to and from Da Nang have also been rescheduled by the carrier.
Flights between Hanoi and Da Nang city initially scheduled for October 27 by Vietjet Air have been canceled, and those between HCM City and Dong Hoi city in Quang Binh province and Hue city in Thua Thien-Hue province rescheduled.
Passengers on the affected flights will be supported according to the carrier policy. Some other flights on the day might also be affected.
Vietjet has informed all affected passengers at airports as well as approached the passengers through other communication channels, via phone calls and SMSs.
Passengers should frequently stay updated on flight information at website www.vietjetair.com and Vietjet Air mobile app. By clicking the tab “Flight status” and inputting reservation codes, passengers can check their itineraries thoroughly to have proper arrangements ahead of the flights.
As of 4 am on October 27, Storm Molave’s eye was some 320 km north-northeast of Song Tu Tay island, with the strongest winds reaching 135-150 km per hour and gust of up to 167-183 km per hour.
It is expected that by 4 am on October 28, the storm’s eye will be right over waters of the coastline from Da Nang city to Phu Yen province, with the maximum wind speed of 165 km per hour.
Torrential downpours will blanket the central localities from October 27-29. Inundation is forecast for lagoons and low-lying areas from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai province.
The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said Molave is as strong as Storm Damrey in 2017 which left 123 people dead or missing and caused damage worth 22 trillion VND (951.45 million USD)./.
Front steering committee established as Storm Molave approaches
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Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Trinh Dinh Dung (centre) as head of the front committee responding to Storm Molave
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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decision to set up a front steering committee to respond to Storm Molave, which is forecast to make landfall in the central and south-central regions, from Thua Thien-Hue south to Khanh Hoa province, later on October 27.
Based in the central city of Da Nang, the committee is in charge of overseeing the efforts of sectors and localities while keeping the PM updated on the storm’s developments.
It is led by Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CCNDPC) Trinh Dinh Dung.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, who is also deputy head of the CCNDPC, was appointed as Dung’s deputy in the new authority.
Members include representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Defence, Public Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Transport, Industry and Trade, and Construction, as well as the Government Office.
MARD is tasked with coordinating with Da Nang authorities in preparation for its operations in terms of logistics and communications.
The authority will automatically dissolve after completing its mission.
The CCNDPC said Molave is as strong as Storm Damrey, which hit in 2017 and left 123 people dead or missing while causing damage of 22 trillion VND (951.45 million USD).
It is expected that at 4 am on October 28, the storm’s eye will be right over Vietnam’s coastline, from Da Nang city to Phu Yen province, with maximum winds of 165 km/h. Torrential downpours will blanket central localities from October 27 to 29, with flooding is forecast in areas from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai.
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Strong gusts and wave height of 3-5 metres at the coastal Vo Nguyen Giap street (Photo: Van Dung/VNA)
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