Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 9 requested enhanced forecasting capacity to ensure a timely, flexible, and effective response to natural disasters, given that many localities are still suffering severe damage caused by Typhoon Matmo and its subsequent flooding, while disasters and weather patterns remain complex in the coming period.
As of October 9, natural disasters nationwide had left 238 dead or missing, and 367 injured; 258,232 houses had been damaged or had their roofs blown off; 555,869 hectares of rice, crops, and other plants had been flooded and damaged; 15,177 livestock and 1,454,997 poultry had been killed or been swept away; and 40,846 hectares of aquaculture had been damaged. The total estimated damage exceeds 33.5 trillion VND (1.27 billion USD).
As of 5pm on October 8, heavy rains triggered by the aftermath of Typhoon Matmo had inundated and damaged nearly 22,600 ha of rice and crops, killed or swept away hundreds of thousands of livestock and poultry, and flooded close to 17,000 houses.
In response to the VFF Central Presidium’s call for support, numerous agencies, organisations, individuals and enterprises have contributed both directly at the VFF headquarters and via its relief fund account.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 8 visited the northern province of Thai Nguyen, to inspect flood-hit areas, encourage local residents, and direct efforts to overcome the consequences of severe flooding triggered by typhoon Matmo.
As of October 7 evening, more than 4,800 houses were inundated and suffered damage, while major transport networks were badly affected. Local authorities are racing against time to settle the typhoon aftermath and ensure safety for residents in high-risk areas.
Due to the impact of a weakened low-pressure system after Typhoon Matmo combined with wind convergence, heavy rain fell across northern provinces from the night of October 6 to the morning of October 7, causing widespread flooding and landslides in mountainous areas. Local authorities, along with police and military forces, were promptly deployed to assist residents in deeply flooded and isolated areas.
Hanoi bore the brunt of the disruption with 19 flooded locations. Meanwhile, the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang reported 25 sites experiencing flooding and embankment collapses.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 7 issued an official dispatch, requesting concerted measures to effectively respond to and control floods, flash floods, and landslides in northern localities following prolonged heavy rains brought by Typhoon Matmo.
According to rapid statistics from the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 17:00 on October 7, nearly 10,900 ha of crops in the two regions, were submerged.
Early on October 7, the circulation of Typhoon Matmo brought moderate to heavy rain across Hanoi. Meteorological agencies warned that rainfall would persist through the morning, raising the risk of flooding in many parts of the capital.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered authorities to take urgent measures against possible flash floods, landslides, and inundation caused by Typhoon Matmo — the 11th storm to hit the East Sea this year.
Lam said that Hanoi is likely to see widespread precipitation ranging from 50-100 mm, and isolated areas potentially receiving over 150 mm. Thunderstorms may also bring the risk of strong winds, lightning, and gusts, he added.
Forecasters said that by late October 6, Typhoon Matmo will continue moving west-northwest into northern mountainous areas of Vietnam and weaken further into a tropical depression with winds below level 6. Quang Ninh and Lang Son provinces are expected to be the most directly affected.
At 1 p.m. on October 5, the centre of Typhoon Matmo was located over the eastern waters of China’s Leizhou Peninsula, about 290km east-southeast of Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh province.
Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to hit the East Sea, is forecast to be over the waters of Quang Ninh on the night of October 5, with very strong winds of level 12–13 and gusts reaching level 16, said Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 2 pm on October 4, the storm’s eye was located at 18.4 degrees North latitude and 115.1 degrees East longitude, about 330 km east-northeast of Hoang Sa special zone. Winds near the centre reached level 12 (118–133 km/h), with gusts up to level 15.
At landfall, the storm packed maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of the morning of October 3, the disaster had resulted in 52 fatalities and 14 missing persons. Over 349 houses collapsed, and 172,104 were damaged or had roofs blown off.
Typhoon Matmo is moving into the East Sea and is expected to intensify in the coming days, bringing the risk of rough seas, heavy rains and flooding across northern and north-central Vietnam.