The storm Talim brewing in the East Sea has sunk or marooned at least seven fishing boats, with some of them possibly distressed at sea without being able to communicate with shore, the Central Regional Centre for Flood and Storm Prevention said.



Two boats with 14 men on board was wrecked off Quang Ngai last weekend, but the fishermen were luckily rescued by other fishing vessels.

Many Vietnamese fishing boats in the area of the Hoang Sa Archipelago (Paracel Islands) are in trouble because of Tropical Storm Talim and tug boats are facing difficulties rescuing them because of rough seas, local reports say.

A fishing boat (No. QNa-91549) with 12 seamen on board has been in distress since Sunday morning but is yet to be rescued, according to Tran Trung Kien, Political Commissar of the Marine Police Region 2.
Yesterday, a boat of the local police managed to reach the boat in distress and provided the seamen with some supply.

On Monday, the Da Nang Marine Rescue Central Coast sent two of their salvage tugs to rescue boat NoQB 92109, which has lost contact with the mainland. The fishing boat, which has seven sailors on board, is believed to be around 90 sea miles off the coast of Da Nang.

In Quang Binh, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh, several boats stalled but lost contact with land.

The centre has identified their locations and launched rescue operations.

Flood shelters

The Prime Minister has approved a pilot programme to offer 700 poor households in central coastal provinces preferential loans to build shelters against flooding.

It aims to ensure safety and deal with floods in 14 communes belonging to seven coastal provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Phu Yen.

Each eligible household will be given a loan up to VND10 million (US$476) with an annual interest rate of 3 per cent in 10 years, plus a grace period of another 10 years.

The programme will start in October and is expected to expand next year.

Meanwhile, HCM City's municipal administration has passed a resolution on preventive and control measures to be taken against flooding caused by heavy rains, high tides and water released from dams.

The June 8 resolution calls on authorities at all levels in the city to be fully aware of four emergency and three preparatory measures that have been identified to respond to floods.

Authorities in heavily flooded localities will have to take immediate measures to control flooding, evacuate residents and property to safe places, and provide emergency relief.

VNA