Typhoon Vicente bears down on Vietnam

Vietnam's deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has established two teams to supervise storm control measures in northern Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City, the most likely regions to be hit by approaching Typhoon Vicente.


The decision was made at an urgent meeting yesterday.


Typhoon Vicente, the fourth tropical storm this year, is getting stronger after passing China's eastern Leizhou Peninsula last night.


It is forecast to be 440 kilometres to the east-northeast of northern Quang Ninh Province's Mong Cai District today, moving west-northwest with wind speeds of up to 133 kilometres per hour.


The typhoon will bring heavy rain of up to 400 millimetres to northern coastal areas. Landslides and flash floods are also expected.


Nguyen Minh Tang, director of the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Centre, said that the storm would hit Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City tomorrow morning, before quickly downgrading to a low pressure front. "We need to monitor its progress carefully over the next 24 hours," he said.


Although the typhoon is expected to cause heavy rain in the northern region, central areas will continue to experience high temperatures ranging from 34-37 degrees Celsius.


Deputy Prime Minister Hai told localities to warn vessels in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf to find safe shelter. Other vessels have been ordered not to leave port.


The two storm-prone localities have also been asked to evacuate residents and tourists if necessary.


Quang Ninh Province's Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control said all tourist boats had been restricted to daytime cruises in Ha Long Bay, and none were permitted to stay out overnight in the bay as a safety precaution.


The committee said that all fishing vessels had been banned from offshore activities for the time being.


Over 80 households in landslide-prone areas will be evacuated this year.


The central cities and provinces of Da Nang, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh are keeping in touch with vessels in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago. They have been told to move out of danger.


Hai also asked authorities in the northern region to examine construction works, reservoirs, mining sites and low-lying areas to avoid possible damage.


According to Hai Phong City's Department of Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, 225 sea border soldiers together with thousands of members of the city's army forces have been mobilised to consolidate the dyke systems.


Other necessities such as instant noodles, clean water, medicine and tens of thousands of lifejackets were available, it said.


Yesterday's heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 102 kilometres per hour killed 1,200 poultry and felled 2,000 trees, causing a loss of 150 million Vietnamese dong (US$7,200), it said.-Asia News Network (July 24, 2012)