Storm Bebinca is heading to coastline from northern Hai Phong city to north central Nghe An province at a speed of about 15km per hour, and is forecast to land over the next 24-48 hours.


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Many vessels have been docked in safe ports to prepare for the storm. Illustrative Image



According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting at 4pm on August 15, the storm – the fourth to hit Vietnam so far this year – was 350km away from the Mong Cai city of Quang Ninh province, 500km from Thai Binh, and 630km from Vinh city of Nghe An province.

In the next 24 hours, the storm will move west-southwest, boasting winds of about 10km per hour.

After landing in Vietnam, the storm is forecast to weaken into a low pressure.

The storm will affect the northern region of the East Sea, bringing strong winds and large waves.

During August 15 evening and August 16, the northwestern region and Hanoi will suffer from heavy rain and thunderstorms.

As part of efforts to prepare for the storm, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong – who is also head of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control – asked for the formation of three working teams to direct Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, and Thanh Hoa. The teams will inspect the localities’ dyke systems along rivers, responding to concerns of flooding on August 16.

Colonel Tran Duong Kien, from the Border Guard High Command, said that as of 11am on August 15, 5,347 vessels were operating at sea and 30,967 others were docked in safe ports. 

Localities brace for storm Bebinca


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A road is blocked by a landslide in northern Hoa Binh province as a result of downpours following storm Son Tinh in July 



Northern coastal provinces are bracing for storm Bebinca, the fourth to hit the East Sea this year, as the storm is forecast to land in the northern coastline from the Hai Phong city to Nghe An province.

Bebinca is moving west-southwest at a speed of 15km per hour, and expected to be 270-350km offshore the coast from Quang Ninh to Nghe An as of 7am on August 16. 

It has wind at 60-90 km per hour near the centre with stronger gust. 

As from August 16 morning, there will be strong wind and rough sea in the eastern area of the Tonkin Gulf. 

In the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to be right on the coast from Hai Phong to Nghe An, and then weaken into a low pressure. 

Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the storm will bring torrential rains in northern and north central regions from the night of August 15 to August 17.

He said the rainfalls may reach 300-400mm, even 500-600mm in some areas in northern localities and Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Hai Phong authorities have deployed forces around the clock at important sites and vulnerable areas to timely deal with any emergency. A total of nearly 42,500 people have been mobilized to get ready for dyke protection and search and rescue activities. 

By mid-day August 15, Hai Phong had issued storm warning to more than 2,830 vessels with nearly 9,200 fishermen and more than 1,500 labourers at sea-based aquaculture farms. 

Though still a distance away, Bebinca has caused heavy rains in Nam Dinh province on August 15. Local authorities are urging residents to shore up their houses while making preparations to evacuate residents in lowland and coastal areas. 

Nam Dinh was also hit by storm Son Tinh in late July, which brought prolonged big rains submerging 20,000 ha out of the total 76,500 ha of rice in the province.

VNA