Storm Damrey makes landfall in south central coast

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the centre of the storm was in Khanh Hoa province at 6am, sustaining wind speed of up to 115-135km per hour.

Downpours with rainfall of 100-200mm have been recorded from Quang Nam to Khanh Hoa provinces and are predicted to continue. The forecasting centre warned these localities of flash floods in mountainous areas and inundation in lowland areas.

In Khanh Hoa, Damrey triggered a widespread blackout, hampering the update of information about storm consequences.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung inspected localities in Khanh Hoa, learning about damage caused by the storm. In coastal Van Ninh district, he was reported that the storm claimed one life and left three injured, destroyed 14 houses and unroofed many others.

He urged the Khanh Hoa leaders to promptly provide assistance for victims, immediate accommodation, while ensuring dam, reservoir and traffic safety, and restoring the power system.

Preliminary statistics show that as of November 4 morning, the storm had left one person dead, four others missing and several boats sunken in Binh Dinh province. Flooding and landslides also completely isolated Canh Lien commune, Canh Giao village of Canh Hiep commune and Ca Ke village of Canh Thuan commune in Van Canh district.

Phu Yen had reported one person missing and four injured as of 9:30am of November 4. About 950 houses and headquarters of agencies in the province were unroofed while the Phu Yen Power Company had to cut off electricity across Tuy Hoa city to ensure safety as storm Damrey fell many utility poles.

The typhoon has also affected other provinces like Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Ninh Thuan, Dak Lak and Dak Nong, causing blackouts and flooding, devastating crops and blocking traffic.

In the face of storm Damrey, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control continued urging affected provinces and cities to evacuate residents in vulnerable areas.

As of 2am of November 4, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces had moved over 35,100 people to safer places. More than 1,700 people in coastal Can Gio district of Ho Chi Minh City had also been evacuated.