Residents in northern Hai Phong City's Do Son town prepare for tropical storm Mangkhut, scheduled to make landfall yesterday. The Ministry of Public Security yesterday ordered all its units to be available to evacuate local residents to safe places and participate in research and rescue operations. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyet
HA NOI (VNS)— Downpours of up to 300mm were expected to blanket northern provinces and the central province of Thanh Hoa as tropical storm Mangkhut made landfall.
The storm brought heavy rains to Ha Noi yesterday afternoon and caused bad weather along the central coastline.
Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Le Thanh Hai said that the stretch of coast from Quang Ninh Province to Thanh Hoa Province was expected to be buffeted by waves of 3-4 metres high.
Mountainous provinces including Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Phu Tho and Yen Bai had been put on the alert for flash floods and landslides triggered by the storm, he said.
The downpours were predicted to last at least two days, he said.
At 1pm yesterday, the eye of the storm was about 190km from the Hai Phong – Thanh Hoa coast, with wind speeds reaching 62-88km per hour.
The storm is moving northwest at a speed of 20-25km per hour.
The centre said Mangkhut was expected to weaken to a tropical low pressure front this afternoon, with wind speeds forecast to ease to 39km per hour.
The Ministry of Public Security yesterday ordered all units to be available to help areas affected by the storm, and prepare for search and rescue activities.
Hoang Van Thang, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and vice chairman of the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, ordered preparations to be complete by 6pm yesterday.
Chairman of the Nam Dinh People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tuan suspended all meetings yesterday to focus on preparations for the storm.
Tuan ordered authorised agencies to evacuate dangerous areas and instruct 2,100 offshore fishing vessels to find safe anchorage. Local dykes were reinforced a few days ago.
Head of the Nghe An People’s Committee also directed local police to work with relevant agencies to overcome traffic problems if floods occurred.
In the northern province of Thai Binh, vessels were banned from going out to sea yesterday morning to ensure the safety of local fishermen. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News