Localities urged to gear up against imminent storm
In
addition, powerful Storm Haiyan in the western part of the Pacific is
quickly moving in a west-northwest direction, and is predicted to enter
the East Sea on late November 8.
The Prime Minister asked coastal
provinces and cities from Da Nang to Ca Mau and Kien Giang to closely
watch the developments of the low depression and Storm Haiyan and to
promptly inform offshore vessels of their positions.
Coastal localities should issue a ban to keep fishing vessels from going out to sea from November 6.
Checks
must be conducted to ensure the safety of dykes and water reservoirs
and fish farming equipment while evacuation plans set up and
supplies of food and essential goods stocked up.
Mekong Delta
provinces should take measures to protect people and property in case of
flooding or landslide in coastal areas and river banks.
Relevant ministries and agencies are urged to mobilise forces and stand ready for action.
According
to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by 4am on
November 6, the tropical depression was about 410km from the coast of
Khanh Hoa province, packing maximum winds of between 50 and 61km per
hour.
In the next 24 hours, the
low pressure is expected to move westwards at between 25 and 30km per
hour and to develop into a storm. By 4pm, the storm will be in the
waters from Khanh Hoa to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces with a velocity of
between 62 and 74km per hour.
The centre forecasts rough sea
around the Truong Sa archipelago and offshore of Phu Yen and Ba Ria Vung
Tau and in the Gulf of Thailand from November 6 afternoon.
The
storm is forecast to bring torrential rain to south-central provinces,
the south part of the Central Highlands and the southern region.
The
centre also issues a warning of possible rising water levels and tides
between 2.5 and 4m high in provinces from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan.
As
an effort to minimise effects of the imminent storm, at-risk localities
have promptly taken preparatory measures. They have contacted fishing
vessels to urge them find shelters, devised plans for evacuation of
those residing in and around areas vulnerable to flood and landslide,
and checked reservoirs and aquatic farms.-VNA