Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a dispatch requesting ministries, sectors and localities to focus on addressing the consequences of typhoon Noru, the fourth to enter the East Sea this year, and take active measures to respond to possible natural disasters.
According to the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, by the end of September 29, two people died, one went missing due to heavy rains and floods in the aftermath of typhoon Noru in the Central region of Vietnam. In addition, 62 were injured, and thousands of houses and thousands of hectares of agricultural land were damaged.
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) yesterday announced that by 7:00 p.m. its member units in areas affected by Typhoon Noru had completely restored the normal operation of all electrical lines as well as damaged 110kV, 220kV, and 500kV transformer stations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the prompt evaluation of losses caused by Typhoon Noru and immediate application of measures to overcome its consequences, support affected people and stabilise production and people’s life during a meeting on September 28.
UNICEF Vietnam expressed its concern over children and families vulnerable to Typhoon Noru, saying it stands ready to support the Government of Vietnam in responding to the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in 20 years, according to a recent statement.
The National Center for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting this morning said that after making landfall and devastating the Central region of Vietnam, typhoon Noru is able to move westerly and downgrade into a tropical depression and low-pressure zone in Thailand with a maximum speed of 25 kilometers an hour in the next 12 hours.
Typhoon Noru made landfall in the area bordering Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province in the early morning of September 28. Previously, as of midnight on September 27, the superstorm had approached the mainland, causing intense rains and gales in the coastal provinces from Thua Thien - Hue to Binh Dinh.
Waterways transport operators on September 27 announced that they temporarily suspended all operations of ferry and high-speed boat services connecting the mainland to the Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Nam Du islands due to the approaching super typhoon Noru.
The Ministry of Health requested hospitals and institutes under the ministry in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to get human resources and medicines ready to support units in the Central region.
Airlines have just said that they have to adjust their plans to operate a series of flights from September 27, due to concerns about the impact of typhoon No. 4 (Typhoon Noru). Five airports around the country temporarily closed ahead of the typhoon.
According to Head of the Weather Forecast Division under the National Center for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting Nguyen Van Huong, storm Noru is strong enough to be considered an intense typhoon at category 3 and with sustained winds exceeding level 15 before it entered the East Sea this morning.
Amid threats of super storm Noru, the Central localities urgently mobilize officers, soldiers and means of rescuing, call for ships still operating at sea to promptly move to the shore and give temporary instructions for ship owners and fishermen to take shelter now, review unsafe places in the border areas to grasp the current situation to help residents strengthen their houses against possible damage and powerful winds and proactively evacuate residents in dangerous areas.
Typhoon Noru is originally forecast to move into the southeast of the Paracel Islands with gales of 134 to 149 kilometers an hour by 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Quang Nam Province sent an urgent message on responding to Storm Noru on the morning of September 26. In case this super typhoon hits Central Vietnam, this province will organize the evacuation of 401,901 people, of which 111,470 people will be relocated on the spot, and 290,585 people will be evacuated.
The People's Committee of the Central Province of Thua Thien - Hue requested people's committees of districts, towns, and Hue city to review evacuation plans for the relocation of households in areas at risk of being affected by floods and storms to a safer place. According to the province’s preparation, 26,255 households with 99,424 people will be evacuated to other shelters.
