On the morning of October 26, the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response said that in eight provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Ninh Thuan that could be affected by the storm, the total number of people to be evacuated under storm response scenarios is 1,279,163 people.
Molave, the nineth to hit Vietnam so far this year, is moving fast towards the central localities and may create waves between 8-10 m in height near the central coastal areas, with the focus on Da Nang to Phu Yen.
The national weather service warned that from October 27 to 29, Typhoon Molave would bring heavy rains with rainfall from 200-350 mm to the central provinces. The storm’s circulation combined with a reported cold spell could cause long-lasting heavy rains in the region, triggering a very high risk of flash floods and landslides in the mountainous areas of the northern part of Central Vietnam.
Border guards and the fisheries sector have informed 59,477 ships with 289,298 employees operating at sea about the storm’s circulation and advised them to take preventive measures.
This afternoon, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai Province ordered a sea ban from 8 pm, while urging local authorities and people urgently implement the approved disaster response and search and rescue plans, focusing on the evacuation and relocation of local people to safer places.
The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam this morning announced that all blocked routes in the central region have been cleared as flooding receded but that there is still a high risk of landslides.
Quang Ngai's fishing boats come ashore to avoid Storm Molave. (Photo: NDO/Hien Cu)
Meanwhile, various localities and units have launched donation drives and received support from donors to send to flood victims in the central region. At a fundraising event in Hanoi on October 26, a representative from Hanoi Youth Union said that the unit would send four volunteer groups to Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces later this month to support local soldiers and people in overcoming the consequences of the natural disasters. According to preliminary statistics from the Hanoi Youth Union, as of this morning, the unit has raised nearly VND4 billion in both cash and necessities.
On the same day, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Vinh Long province held a donation drive to support people in the central region and the Central Highlands to overcome the damage caused by floods. Right after the launch, over 60 organisations and individuals donated nearly VND4 billion. The campaign will last until December 22.
The VFF chapter of Dong Nai province on October 26 received more than VND9 billion in support of flood victims in the central provinces. On the morning of the same day, Chairman of Dong Nai People's Committee Cao Tien Dung received VND1.7 billion from the Tae Kwang Vina Joint Stock Company and presented it to the provincial Red Cross Society to support the relief effort in the central region.
Dong Nai provincial leaders hand over VND1.7 billion to the provincial Red Cross Society to support flood victims in the central region. (Photo: NDO/Thien Vuong)
Previously, Dong Nai Red Cross had mobilised cash and supplies with a total value of more than VND11.6 billion. Immediately after receiving the donation, on October 23, Chairperson of the Dong Nai Red Cross Society Do Thi Phuoc Thien and donors went to Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces to give the money and relief goods to local people.
On October 26, Ben Tre Power Company gave VND80 million to the VFF Committee of Ben Tre province to support local people in the central region. On November 5, the provincial VFF Committee will coordinate with the Provincial Buddhist Sangha and Hoa Hao Buddhist followers to transport 3,300 gifts, worth VND1.6 billion, to the central region.
Previously, Ben Tre sent VND600 million to the VFF Committees of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces to help people facing difficulty due to the current floods.
