Dung, who is also Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Search and Rescue, asked for rallying resources and vehicles of border guards and naval forces for search and rescue of crewmen aboard the coal ship VTB26 in the central province of Nghe An.
The Border Guard High Command’s Steering Board for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue reported that the storm sank VTB26 vessel with 13 crewmen on board and 4,700 tonnes of coal, which anchored at Hon Ngu sea in Nghe An.
As of 11:30 the same day, 7 out of the 13 crewmen were found alive, and one was dead. The remaining five are being searched for.
Dung urged provincial authorities to promptly check and assess losses caused by the storm, provide timely support for families of victims, including food and home repair.
Localities were also asked to evacuate residents out of areas prone to flash flood and landslides, and direct transport, industry and trade, information and communications, agriculture and rural development sectors to focus on rebuilding efforts while ensuring smooth travelling, sufficient electrical supply and safety of dams and reservoirs.
The Nghe An provincial People’s Committee said as of 5am on July 17, the storm killed one person, blew roofs of 2,751 houses, inundated 300ha of watermelon and uprooted thousands of trees.
Central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue reported downpours measuring from 70-100mm, with 100-200mm of rains reported in Nghe An through to Quang Binh.
As an effect of the storm, more rains of between 100-200mm are forecast for northeast and north central localities on July 17 and 18.
