Coastal provinces brace as storm Mujigae nears

The moving map of the Tropical storm Mujigae (Source: nchmf.gov.vn)

Coastal localities stretching from northern Quang Ninh province to central Khanh Hoa province are bracing for tropical storm Mujigae which entered the East Sea after it gained strength from a tropical low-pressure system on October 2 morning.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicted that the storm would hit Hai Phong port city and Quang Ninh on October 5 and bring torrential rain of 300-500 mm for northern provinces the following day.

At an online meeting held on October 2 afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai ordered rescue forces in the localities to be ready for emergencies.

"Ban all vessels from going offshore if the storm comes close to shore," he said.

Hai said the storm's development would be complicated, so localities had to mobilise all resources to cope with the storm and minimise damage.

Mountainous localities were required to make plans for evacuating residents in areas with a high risk of flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains.

The National Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control also sent an urgent message asking the coastal localities to inform all offshore fishing vessels about the storm's development to actively find anchorage.

The committee said due to the storm, the most dangerous zone for vessels was identified to be the northern part of the East Sea so far. The zone could be changed depending on the storm's developments.

A quick report from the National Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control said by noon of October 2, more than 46,000 vessels were notified about the storm, which is the fourth tropical storm battering the East Sea this year.-VNA