As of 10 am this morning (Oct 27), Molave, the ninth of this year and fourth within a month, was some 220 km north-northwest of Song Tu Tay Island, with strongest winds reaching 135-165 kph.
In the next 24 hours, the storm will move in a westward direction at a speed of about 22-25 kph and make a landfall in areas from Da Nang City to Phu Yen Province.
By 10 am on October 28, the storm’s eye will be right over the mainland in the central provinces from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh, with maximum wind speeds of 115 kph.
The strong typhoon is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression over the next 24 to 36 hours as it moves deeper inland.
Molave will bring strong winds and rough waters with waves up to 10 m high in the central part of the Eat Sea (South China Sea). From October 27 night, central localities from Thua Thien Hue to Phu Yen would suffer from heavy rains with common rainfall may up to 400 mm, even 500-700 mm in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh.
Water level is forecast to rise on local rivers from Nghe An to Phu Yen and the Central Highlands from tonight to November 1, posing high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as flooding in low-lying, riverside and urban areas in such localities.
According to the national weather service, after landing on the mainland from Da Nang to Phu Yen, Typhoon Molave will continue to hit the Central Highlands with strong winds and heavy rains that likely to cause flash flood and landslides. To cope with the approaching storm, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response and the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response and Search and Rescue issued a joint telegram yesterday evening, urging their affiliates in the Central Highlands to focus on reviewing and implementing urgent measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, while being ready to evacuate people from dangerous areas, as well as guiding the reinforcement of houses, offices, schools, hospitals, warehouses and public works and protecting agricultural production, especially perennial and industrial crops.
Vessels and boats anchored to avoid storms at Ca Ty River, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province. (Photo: NDO)
On the same day, Thua Thien Hue authorities urged local units to complete the relocation of households in critical areas at risk of landslides and those along rivers and streams before 3 pm today.
Quang Nam Province requested that localities in the province complete the reinforcement of buildings against the coming storm before 6 pm today, while being ready to evacuate people from dangerous areas before the storm hits the mainland. Local authorities were asked to guide people to store food and essentials for at least 7-10 days in areas prone to isolation due to flooding. Quang Nam’s education sector has decided to allow students of all educational levels remain absent from school for the two days of October 27 and 28.
Ninh Thuan Province has issued a telegraph to request local authorities to urgently take measures against the storm, focusing on evacuating people in dangerous areas.
Ky Anh District in Ha Tinh Province plans to evacuate 58 households with 210 people in upland communes at risk of landslides. The district also called on boat owners to enter the shelter and inform means operating at sea know the position, direction of movement and the evolution of the storm.
Da Nang City plans to evacuate 140,868 people living in unstable and temporary houses as Molave is approaching. Preschool children, students in the city will remain home from school this afternoon and on October 28, while public employees are also allowed to off from October 28 morning until the end of the storm.
Da Nang relocates people to avoid Storm Molave. (Photo: NDO)
On October 26, Binh Dinh Province issued a sea ban and requested 78 ships operating at Quy Nhon Port to avoid storms in safe sea areas. Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee requested localities to complete all relocation plans this afternoon and instructed people to store food to ensure that they could be used for at least three days if a flood occurs.
The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) Central Committee on October 26 launched a text message campaign to call for public support for flood victims in the central region. The campaign, in collaboration with the National Humanitarian Portal 1400, will run until the end of December 21. Supporters can join the programme by texting “UH” to 1403. Each text message will contribute VND20,000 to the fund. The same day, the VRCS received about VND4 billion worth of donations from various donors.
On October 26, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs submitted a report to the Prime Minister on additional allocation of 6,500 tonnes of rice to people affected by natural disasters and floods in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.
Also on October 26, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) awarded the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) a US$20,000 emergency aid package from the KOICA Club fund to help disadvantaged women, children with disabilities and the elderly in areas severely affected by floods and storms in the provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Ha Tinh. Support package includes toiletries, rescue equipment and necessities.
Cho Han-Deog, Country Director of KOICA Vietnam, awarded US$20,000 for flood recovery assistance to Ha Thi Nga, President of Vietnam Women's Union. (Photo: KOICA)
Quang Binh Province has received donations and goods to support flood recovery from 62 agencies, units, businesses and donors with a total value of nearly VND24 billion.
The Quang Tri Provincial Fatherland Front Committee received VND2 billion from Quang Tri Newspaper, mobilised from relevant businesses and press agencies to support people in flooded areas.
The Fatherland Front Committee of Dak Lak Province has received a total of about VND1.2 billion to support flood victims in central Vietnam.
The Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Long Province has organised fund raising campaign and collected nearly VND4 billion.
On October 26, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) said that PVN and its member units have donated nearly VND20 billion to support the relief work in the central provinces.
