VietNamNet Bridge – Tropical typhoon Nock-ten is expected to hit China’s Hainan Island at night,  July 29 before entering the Tonkin Gulf and bringing heavy rains to northern and north-central Vietnam, according to the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Center.

 
The storm was around 170km east of Hainan island in the morning of July 29. It is moving west-northwest at 15-20 kph, and by 7 pm tonight, July 29, will make landfall over the island with winds of 89-117 kph and gusts of up to132 kph.

 

It will enter the Tonkin Gulf in the morning of July 30 with the same powerful winds, affecting the coast from Nam Dinh to Nghe An provinces.

 

By 7 pm of July 30, Nock-10 will lie 110km east off the coast between Hai Phong and Nghe An. The typhoon will cause heavy rains in the entire region, with some places getting 300-400 mm, and rough seas in the northern part of the East Sea.

 

The middle and southern areas of the East Sea, between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau, will have winds of 45-75 kph along with thunderstorms.

 

More than 24,000 offshore vessels from northern Quang Ninh to central Quang Ngai provinces are being kept informed on the progress of tropical storm Nock-10, reported the National Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control.

 

At present, there are a total of 221 vessels still operating around the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands. They will be guided to shelter if necessary.

 
Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the forecasting centre, said that if the storm did not change direction, it would bring heavy rain to northern and central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue during the weekend.

 

The National Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control has ordered authorities from northern Thai Binh to central Quang Ngai provinces to re-examine and consolidate dyke systems.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on July 28 urged sea-going vessels to remain inshore as the Nock-10 tropical storm was approaching.

 

Speaking at an urgent meeting of the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control, Hai told officials to ensure all sea-going vessels were kept informed of the storm's developments and advised where best to find shelter.

 

The Deputy PM also asked coastal authorities from northern Quang Ninh to central Quang Ngai provinces to take steps to protect aquaculture farms and fish cages and ensure that dyke systems were in good repair.

 

Local authorities have been told to ready rescue equipment and ensure there are sufficient food supplies in case of flooding in low-lying areas. He also said evacuation plans should be in place.

 

Meanwhile, the upgrade of dyke systems in the northern region was behind schedule and encroachments along the dyke corridors were common.

 

In Hanoi, encroachments and illegal sand exploitation has caused serious erosions along the dyke in Long Bien, Chuong My and Dan Phuong districts.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's chief inspector and head of the inspection group on dyke violations Pham Van Hien, said examples of violations such as discarding waste along the river banks, encroaching for personal business purposes or building houses were easy to see in Hanoi.

 

Due to a restricted budget, northern Nam Dinh Province spent only VND2 billion (US$98,000) on dyke upgrades annually. Thus, the plan on improving local dyke system can't be completed this year. The provincial department has upgraded 33km of dykes, with the plan scheduled to be completed by 2015.

 

PV