According to the national weather service, the reported tropical depression in the north of the East Sea (South China Sea) has strengthened into Typhoon Nangka, the seventh to arise in the East Sea so far this year. It will quickly move west-northwest at a speed of about 20kph over the next 24 hours and is likely to gain strength.
At 7 am this morning (Oct 13), Nangka was about 220km to the Southeast of Hainan Island (China), boasting strongest winds of 90kph. In the following 24 hours, the storm will continue moving west-northwest at a speed of 15-20kpm. It is forecast to make a landfall on October 16 in northern and northern central localities before weakening into a low pressure zone.
Due to the influence of the new typhoon combined with the current cold spell, northern and north-central localities will be affected by torrential rains from October 14-16, with rainfall of up to 400mm or higher.
This morning, heavy rains continued to hit central localities with an average rainfall of 50mm. Rainfall will reduce in the afternoon.
Experts forecast that widespread flooding will continue in central provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Nam, with high risks of landslides. Locals in risky areas are advised to move to safer places.
The latest report from the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response showed that severe flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the central region have claimed at least 28 lives and left 12 others missing.
Thua Thien Hue Province’s leaders present gifts to flood victims in Phong Dien District. (Photo: NDO/Cong Hau)
As of the morning of October 12, central localities had evacuated 45,835 people from 15,392 households. Heavy rainfall destroyed 382 houses and submerged 109,034 others, damaged 584 ha of paddy rice, 3,879 ha of vegetables and 2,141 ha of aquaculture, and killed 271 heads of cattle and 150,489 heads of poultry.
Localities are exerting every effort to tackle the impacts of natural disasters by intensifying search and rescue missions, supporting families of victims, and providing food and clean water to those affected.
Teachers in the Quang Ninh floodplain in Quang Binh Province clearing the mud at a local school to welcome back students after the flooding recedes. (Photo: NDO/Huong Giang)
On October 12, on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man offered encouragement to local authorities and families damaged by floods in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Da Nang.
In the short term, the Standing Committee will send VND5 million to each family that has suffered from a family member having died or gone missing during the flood. Each seriously injured person who has been hospitalised will also be provided with VND3 million.
Man asked VFF chapters to coordinate with local authorities to support local residents and gather statistics on damages to be reported to the VFF for the next supportive measures.
