According to the latest report by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting, a tropical depression became a typhoon after entering the eastern part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago on the morning of August 18. It would mark the 14th storm to hit the East Sea this year with international name Kirogi.
It is expected to be around 150 km easterly off the coast from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan provinces, which are still reeling from devastating typhoon Damrey earlier this month, with winds of force 8-9 by 4:00 on November 19.
Ninh Thuan has 2,651 fishing vessels with 16,474 crewmen. Communications have been connected with 679 fishing vessels with 5,275 fishermen currently operating at sea while 1,972 others are anchoring at wharves and seaports.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Quoc Nam said with lessons learnt from typhoon Damrey, the province will mobilize the entire political system in response efforts. Localities and sectors have designed specific plans to help local people in coastal and mountainous areas reinforce their houses and get ready to move to safer places.
In Khanh Hoa province, there are 240 fishing vessels with 1,550 fishermen on board are out at sea and they were informed of the movement of the storm in order to find shelters. Children are off school from 12:00 on November 18, while people living in dangerous, coastal and lowland areas are being evacuated.
Binh Thuan authorities are communicating with its fishing vessels operating at sea to call them to go inshore as there are 93 out of the total 2,322 fishing vessels staying in wharves.
Ho Chi Minh City has also banned fishing boats, as well as tourist ships and hydrofoils, to operate on rivers.
Authorities of Ben Tre and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces also issued the same ban.
The central steering committee on November 17 tasked authorities of the coastal localities with providing frequent weather forecasts and timely updates to captains and vessel owners of the incoming storm and help them find safe shelters in such cases. Rescue forces will also need to be on constant alert to immediately respond to any emergencies.
The central steering committee has ordered authorities of in-land areas to prepare for heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides and other possible scenarios due to the impact of the tropical depression.
State-run news agencies – Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, and Voice of Vietnam – are asked to increase the frequency and airtime of their weather updates.
