VietNamNet Bridge – Typhoon Nari is moving west and north-west in the next 24 hours at a speed of 10-15km per hour and will likely hit central Vietnam.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 7:00 am on October 14, the storm’s centre was approximately 280km east of coastline of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai provinces with gale-force of up to 149kmp.

Over the next 24-48 hours, the typhoon will be moving west at a speed of 10-15km per hour to make landfall in central provinces and weaken into a low tropical pressure.

There will be strong winds in the provinces stretching from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai and heavy rains from Nghe An to Quang Ngai and the north central highlands as well as tidal surges, 3-4 metre high, offshore these provinces.

The Central and Central Highland Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control says Quang Binh and Khanh Hoa authorities have already directed nearly 44,350 vessels with over 180,730 fishermen on board to seek shelter.

The storm-prone provinces of Quang Binh,  Quang Nam Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang have devised plans to evacuate local residents from danger areas to safe ground.

Earlier, in an urgent telegram on October 13, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung instructed all relevant ministries and local agencies to brace themselves for the powerful storm.

Localities urged to gear up for storm Nari

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 13 issued a notice regarding measures to cope with tropical storm Nari, the 11 th storm to hit Vietnam this year, which is forecast to land on the central region on October 15.

The Prime Minister required provinces and cities from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen to mobilise forces while closely coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to drastically and promptly implement preventive measures in order to minimize losses in human lives and property.

All off-shore fishing vessels must be informed of the storm and directed to find safe shelter. At the same time, rescue forces must stand ready for action, he said.

Checks should be conducted to ensure the safety of dykes and water reservoirs while supplies of food and essential goods should be stocked up.

According to the National Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control, by 6am on October 14, central coastal provinces from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa contacted a total of 44,343 fishing vessels with 180,734 fishermen to urge them to find shelters.

Provinces between Quang Binh and Quang Nam have also devised plans for evacuation of more than 155,500 people who are residing in and around areas vulnerable to flood and landslide.

Meanwhile, Da Nang City is working to evacuate about 11,000 households by 12am on October 14.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorlogical Forecasting said by 4am on October 14, the storm was about 330 kilometres east of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai provinces, packing maximum winds of between 134 and 149 kilometres per hour.

In the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to move west and west-northwest at around 15 kilometres per hour.

Coastal provinces braced for 11th storm

Tropical storm Nari, the 11th storm to hit Viet Nam this year, passed over the Phillipines' Luzon and into the East Sea on Saturday morning.

With wind speeds reaching level 13 (134-149 kilometres per hour) at its eye, the storm would likely make landfall tomorrow , hitting central provinces from Quang Tri to Thua Thien Hue, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting.

The storm's eye was about 240 kilometres southeast of Hoang Sa Archiplago, with wind speeds reaching as high as 16 yesterday afternoon.

The storm is expected to move westward and then change direction between west and west-northwest at 15-20 kilometres per hour.

At 1 pm today, it will be about 170 kilometres east of central provinces Quang Tri and Quang Ngai.

The Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control asked localities from central Thanh Hoa Province to Phu Yen Province yesterday to prepare for the coming storm.

The central province of Nghe An has informed the public and inspected areas vulnerable to landslides.

Many of the province's 625 reservoirs were damaged by Wutip, which hit the Central region late last month, according to the provincial committee for flood and storm prevention.

The province's rescue forces and facilities plan to stand ready for action.

Meanwhile, the central province of Ha Tinh mobilised about 1,000 people, including army soldiers, public security forces, border guards and locals, to build sea dykes through Thach Kim commune, said vice chairman of Loc Ha District People's Committee Committee Phan Thanh Nhan, adding that part of the dyke system was damaged by Wutip.

The central Da Nang City reported yesterday that about 11,000 households would be evacuated to safer areas .

On Saturday, the National Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control issued an urgent notice, calling for cities and provinces to call in offshore fishing vessels and prepare to evacuate at-risk areas.

Wutip, the 10th storm, caused losses totalling VND11 trillion ($517 million) in central coastal provinces last month. The storm killed 14 people and injured 225.

Source: VOV/VNA/VNS