Photo by Viet Nam News/Asia News Network
More than 1.1 million people in 15 provinces and cities in the south of Vietnam have been evacuated to safety as Typhoon Tembin approaches, with the storm forecast to land in the coastal area from Ba Ria – Vung Tau to Ca Mau provinces early today.
The Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue and the Border Guard Command provided information on the storm’s movements to more than 69,000 vehicles.
The storm is moving west at a speed of 15-20km per hour and is forecast to be off the waters of Tra Vinh to Ca Mau at about 7am today. Wind speeds hit 75-90km per hour, according to the National Hydrometeorological Forecast Centre.
The storm is projected to keep moving west for the next 12-24 hours and gradually weaken into a tropical depression. The eye of the depression is forecast to be off the Gulf of Thailand at 7pm today.
The typhoon has already affected some localities which have experienced rains up to 50mm from yesterday evening.
The centre also warned of flash floods and landslides in some areas from Quang Ngai to Binh Thuan, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Kien Giang due to heavy rains and rising seawater.
Localities in the south have taken various measures to prepare for the storm.
Con Dao District and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have called for all vessels operating in Con Dao’s waters to return to safety. All tourists on the island have been evacuated to shelters.
Nguyen Van Dung, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Con Dao District, said the province has instructed forces to call on fishermen to return to storm shelters.
The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang has evacuated more than 30,000 people to safe places while calling for nearly 1,200 vessels operating offshore to find shelter.
The province’s leaders have directed agencies, forces and households to speed up the harvest of shrimp and rice to avoid storm damage.
Tien Giang Province also evacuated nearly 35,000 people in high risks areas to safer places. Thousands of soldiers were mobilised to strengthen the dyke system and houses.
Many localities have allowed pupils to stay home from schools and industrial zone workers to be off work.
Deputy PM inspects typhoon preparedness
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung yesterday visited Soc Trang to inspect preparations for Typhoon Tembin.
In Tran De district and Vinh Chau township, the Deputy PM visited a dock where 600 ships are sheltering from the storm and several storm shelters for people in Vinh Chau township.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Chuyen told the Deputy PM that the province has mobilised all resources to minimise losses, adding the evacuation work was fulfilled on December 24, with 27,000 people moving to schools and agencies’ headquarters.
Later the same day, Deputy PM Dung also visited Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces to inspect their preparedness, dyke systems and evacuation plan.
The same day, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, also head of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, led a working delegation to inspect preparedness for the storm in Khanh Hoi area, U Minh district, in Ca Mau Province.
Cuong then met with authorities of neighbouring Kien Giang Province about its work to cope with Tembin, the 16th storm to hit the East Sea this year.
Many flights cancelled
Vietnam Airlines and several other carriers have cancelled or adjusted the schedule of many flights to and from areas to be affected by typhoon Tembin.
The national flag carrier cancelled all flights from 12:40 to 20:30 yesterday on routes between Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc in the southern province of Kien Giang, and between Hanoi and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
Passengers affected by the cancellations will be arranged to fly on the next day.
Meanwhile, the schedule of flights from 15:00 to 23:00 yesterday will be adjusted according to the latest reports on Tembin, and will be updated frequently on Vietnam Airlines’ website and Facebook.
Jetstar Pacific will adjust its flights to and from Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City and Phu Quoc Island depending on the movement of the typhoon.
Due to the changes, a number of domestic flights are expected to be delayed. Passengers can get information on the carriers’ official websites or Facebook, as well as ticket offices.