Central region braces for new strong Storm Molave

According to the national weather service, Molave, the nineth storm to hit Vietnam this year, was about 650 km northeast of Song Tu Tay Island at 8 am this morning, packing winds of 115-135 kph.

The typhoon is moving fast in westward direction at a speed of 20-25 kph and continues to grow stronger.

At 7 am on October 28, the storm's centre is forecast to be right on the waters of the central localities from Da Nang to Phu Yen, with the strongest blowing at 115-150 kph.

Molave is expected to make a landfall in areas from Da Nang to Phu Yen during the next 48 to 72 hours, before gradually weakening into a tropical depression.

In addition, this morning, Storm Saudel, the eighth storm to hit the East Sea this year, has weakened into a low pressure area in the central provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Tri. However, it is still causing heavy rains in the central region, which has already been hit hard by the recent flooding.

Combined with the cold spell from the north, the circulation of the two storms may lead to prolonged rains in northern and central areas of this region, triggering high risks of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas in the following days.

Against the coming storm, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response yesterday issued an official letter, urging units in provinces and cities from Thua Thien Hue to Ninh Thuan to urgently carry out measures to ensure the safety for ships and aquaculture activities, as well as preparing food and basic necessities to actively respond to prolonged heavy rains and floods, in addition to getting ready to evacuate people from dangerous areas and preparing all forces and means for rescue work when required.

Boats in safe anchorage in Hoang Mai Town, Nghe An Province. (Photo: NDO/Thanh Chau)

According to the Border Guard, about 59,477 ships with 289,298 workers on board have been informed about the coming storm and instructed to escape the dangerous areas.

As of 5 pm on October 25, flooding has claimed the lives of 130 people in the central region, while 18 others are still missing. The serious flooding also damaged hundreds of houses, thousands of hectares of crops, cattle and poultry. Several roads are still blocked due to landslide. The power sector has resumed electricity supply for about 267 communes.

Meanwhile, more support and donations have been sending to flood victims in the central region to ease their difficulties these days.

On October 25, Thua Thien Hue Province received and distributed relief goods to localities in the province to overcome the consequences of floods. Accordingly, the concerned ministries and agencies have provided Thue Thien Hue 250 plastic tarpaulins, 50 water filters, 500 home repair kits, 650 kitchen tools, power generators, high speed boats, life vests, and 10.5 tonnes of dry food.

On the same day, Ha Tinh Province received rice, drinking water, noodles, notebooks, and medicine donated from the Health Protection Committee for Central Officers. The delegation also offered VND50 million for the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ha Tinh City.

Medical staff from Le Thuy district’s medical station provide water treatment tablets for local people as the floods begin to recede in Quang Bing Province. (Photo: NDO/Huong Gian)

Many other domestic units and agencies abroad have joined hands to support victims hit by the historic flood in the central region. The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos held a fund-raising event on October 25, in which Vietnamese people living in Vientiane, Vietnamese enterprises operating in Laos, and embassy staff donated a total of over VND750 million.

Many associations in France have urged their members and Vietnamese communities in the host country to make donations in support of people affecting by the recent record flooding in central Vietnam. The Vietnam Businesspersons’ Association in France (ABVietFrance) has transferred to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee the money donated by philanthropists through the association to help the central people.

The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) will host a charity art show at the VOV Theatre, No. 58 Quan Su, Hanoi at 8 pm on October 30 to call for contributions to support people in the central region. The programme will feature 20 art performances along with an auction of some products to raise funds in support of affected families.