Powerful Storm Nakri approaches South Central Coast

According to the national weather service, Nakri – the sixth and likely the strongest typhoon from the East Sea this year – was located about 110 km to the north of Song Tu Tay Island (in Vietnam’s Spratly archipelago) as 7 am on Saturday morning (Nov 9), with strongest winds blowing at up to 100-135 km/hour.

By 7 am the next morning, the storm is forecast at about 220 km to the east from the coast of provinces from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa, with the strongest winds blowing at 100-115km/hour. In the next 24 to 48 hours, the storm is predicted to move in the north-western direction at 10-15 km/hour, going deep to the mainland before weakening into a tropical depression.

Strong winds and rough sea are forecast in the waters off the provinces from Da Nang to Ninh Thuan, while heavy rains up to 350mm, as well as flood and landslide, are also warned for provinces from Thua Thien - Hue to Ninh Thuan and the Central Highlands from Nov 9-12.

To deal with the strong storm, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on late Nov 8 sent an urgent telegraph to provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong, urging for emergency response to Nakri.

Authorities were asked to urge boats and fishermen working at aquaculture farms at sea to return to land, while getting plans ready for the evacuation of residents from houses and areas vulnerable to strong winds, flooding and landslides.

Locals in Nhon Hai commune, Quy Nhon city strengthen a sea embankment section to brace against Storm Nakri. (Photo: NDO/Cat Hung)

Thua Thien - Hue and Da Nang have ban ships from going to sea since Nov 8, while Quang Ngai authorities are actively evacuating over 47,800 local people to safety and temporarily stop operating the Sa Ky - Ly Son waterway.

Quang Ngai, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh provinces will close schools on November 11. The latter plans to evacuate more than 14,500 households with 68,000 people out of dangerous areas before 12 pm on Nov 10.

Khanh Hoa province will relocate 3,707 households at 88 risk-prone locales to safety when the storm makes landfall.

In Phu Yen, about 6,200 people have been mobilised to participate in rescuing and coping with the typhoon. They have proactively notified fishermen to have appropriate plans returning to the sea after the storm’s dismissal.

The Quang Ngai Border Guards force helps local fishermen anchor their fishing boats. (Photo: NDO/Hien Cu)

Binh Thuan has kept contact with about 2,000 fishing boats still operating at sea. The province’s Maritime Port Authority has also informed the port operators, ship owners and captains of the storm’s evolution to make suitable production plans.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have requested its relevant units and localities to closely monitor the development of Nakri and called on boats to evade the storm. The city has prepared a plan to relocate locals in Thanh An island commune, Can Gio district, as well as households along the rivers and sea to safe places.

Fishing boats of Phu Yen fishermen anchor safely in Tuy Hoa city. (Photo: NDO/Trinh Ke)