A map of the sixth tropical storm to appear in the East Sea this year. The storm is expected to continue heading northwest and make landfall in provinces in the northeastern region this evening. — Photo Courtesy of the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre
HA NOI (VNS)— The sixth tropical storm of this year was forming to the south of the Hoang Sa Archipelago, and was expected to bring heavy rains to northern and central-northern regions today.
Up to 200mm of rainfall is forecast by the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre, which warns mountainous provinces to prepare for possible flashfloods and landslides.
The storm was about 200km east of the Hoang Sa Archipelago at 1pm yesterday. Wind speeds near the eye of the storm have been measured at 62-74km per hour.
In the next 24 hours, it is forecast to move northwest along coastal central provinces at a speed of 20-25km per hour.
The storm is expected to continue heading northwest and make landfall in provinces in the northeastern region this evening before weakening to a low tropical pressure front.
The front will travel further inland into northern midland areas tomorrow, with winds falling to less than 39km per hour.
The National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control has warned coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa to take measures to cope with the storm.
The committee has also instructed localities to inform offshore vessels to avoid dangerous zones and seek storm-shelters.
Border guards in coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau have sent storm-warnings to more than 41,400 vessels operating offshore with over 200,500 people aboard.
The Ha Noi Sewerage and Drainage Co Ltd has prepared plans to prevent the capital city from being flooded by the storm.
“Workers are on duty around the clock in areas with a high risk of flooding, and work has been completed to lower the water levels in rivers and clear drainage systems,” said the company’s director, Tran Trong Van.
The previous storm which hit the northern region last weekend claimed six lives and injured 11. More than 2,100 houses and over 5,200ha of rice were damaged by the storm.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a request to the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi to assist 32 Vietnamese fishing vessels.
The ministry requested that the boats be anchored to Hainan Island if necessary and emergency support be provided to the 314 people on board.
Meetings in northern Hai Phong City were suspended yesterday to focus efforts on dealing with the storm. The city also notified 3,000 boats and 9,600 sea workers of the weather conditions.
From noon today, Hai Phong will temporarily halt all water transport in and out of Cat Hai District, Bach Long Vi, Do Son and Kien Thuy.
Efforts will be made to move residents who live near aquaculture farming areas. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News