VietNamNet Bridge – The tropical storm, which developed from a low-pressure system yesterday afternoon (Aug 17) near the East Sea, will bring torrential rains with rainfall up to 500mm for localities in the north and central region from this afternoon until Saturday.

The storm is forecasted to make landfall near coastal areas from Quang Ninh Province to Nghe An Province on Friday.

The latest update from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting yesterday afternoon said that at 2 pm, the eye of the storm was over the southwest part of China’s Guangdong Province.

The storm, forecasted to be the third storm battering the East Sea this year, and is moving west at 5-10 km per hour, was predicted to gain more strength, the centre said.

Due to the storm, northern provinces including Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Quang Ninh as well as central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh were put on high alert for possible flash floods and landslides.

Floods, triggered by the storm, could appear in the river systems of Hong, Thai Binh, Hoang Long, Ky Cung and Bang Giang.

In response to the situation, administrations in two provinces of Nam Dinh and Thai Binh ordered its authorised agencies to prepare for the storm. The preparations involve informing offshore vessels about storm developments so that they can find safe shelter, evacuating people living in high-risk area of landslides, and mobilising all forces for emergencies.

In another development, statistics from Thanh Hoa Province’s administration yesterday showed that heavy rains and floods, occurring between August 11 and 17, killed one and caused total damage of VND125 billion (US$5.6 million). During the rains and floods, 207 houses collapsed and over 120 tonnes of caged fish were killed.

First natural-disaster-coping exercise conducted

Also yesterday, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society conducted its first exercise to cope with natural disasters in Ha Noi.

The hypothetical situation given in the exercise was a tropical storm, with the devastation similar to the super storm Haiyan (which killed 13 people in Viet Nam after churning through the country late 2013), with wind speeds of 167-201 km per hour, hitting central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang City.

Following the hypothetical situation, the Red Cross Society quickly contacted the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to receive updates on storm developments as well as damage to both human life and property. The society would then assess the demand for aid of each storm-hit locality. The next step was calling for support from domestic and international organisations to assist people in storm-affected localities.

Chairman of the Red Cross Society Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said the exercise aimed to check the capability of the society in providing aid and coping with natural disasters.

Previously, staff of the Red Cross agency had been invited on a two-day training course to improve their skills in dealing with emergencies, especially natural disasters, which wrapped up on Tuesday.

Minister orders careful preparation to brace for coming storm

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong requested cities and provinces in the north central region prepare for tropical storm Dianmu, the third of its kind in 2016, during a conference in Hanoi on August 17.

Cuong, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said the storm comes at a dangerous time for northern and north-central localities, as torrential rain over the past five days has caused flash floods in 14 northern mountainous provinces.

The storm’s arrival also coincides with high flood levels on the two major river systems – the Hong and Thai Binh -, he said, warning careful preparation is needed to deal with the storm, especially to protect sea dykes.

He asked the National Committee for Search and Rescue and border guards to coordinate with fisheries forces and Central Steering Committees on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control at local levels to direct ships in the affected areas to safety.

The minister instructed all provinces northwards of the 17th parallel must enforce strict bans on sailing for all vessels as from August 18.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for directing localities to inspect dykes and water pumping facilities whilst Electricity of Vietnam handles reservoirs and hydropower plants.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked to examine the power network and ensure electricity supply is maintained, Cuong said, adding that the Ministry of Public Security would guarantee security in the affected areas.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said the storm will bring widespread heavy rain to northern and north central provinces from August 18 to August 20.

Northern mountainous provinces are forecast to encounter serious flooding, flash floods and landslides.

VNS/VNA