Tropical depression strengthens into typhoon Thursday, central region bracing for impacts

Soldiers of the Cồn Cỏ Border Guard Station prepare sandbags to reinforce its headquarters in preparation for the tropical depression on Wednesday.—VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Provinces and cities in central Việt Nam are being warned to be ready for a tropical depression which it is feared could strengthen into a typhoon by Thursday morning.

In Thanh Hóa Province, Đỗ Minh Tuấn, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee told local officials to closely monitor and continuously update information on the progression of the tropical depression, as well as being ready for any potential flooding.

Districts and Thanh Hóa City were ordered to immediately implement safety measures for vessels and maritime activities and keep boats in harbour and advise those still at sea to find a safe shelter.

The provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department has been ordered to closely monitor the situation, collaborating with relevant units to ensure the safety of dikes, reservoirs and irrigation systems and to pay close attention to harvest autumn crops and protect aquatic resources.

In the coastal Quảng Bình Province, a ban on sea activities will commence from midnight on Thursday until conditions are deemed safe.

Fishing teams at sea were advised to maintain communication and support one another in emergencies, while measures for securing assets on rafts and fishing huts were also being implemented.

Districts and towns were assigned to inspect areas at risk of flash floods, landslides and execute contingency plans for storms, heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides, including the evacuation of residents to safer locations.

Particular attention should be given to high-risk areas such as Phòng Không Hill in Đức Hóa Commune, Hamlet 5 in Quy Đạt Town and Rục Village in Hồng Hóa Commune, along with the stockpiling of food and essential supplies in case areas are cut off for a long time.

Officials are being urged to keep in communication with residents who were still in forests and to call them back safely before the onset of any flooding.

Traffic control and guidance must be arranged at low-lying crossings and flooded areas, with the temporary suspension of operations at floating bridges and ferries during significant rainfall.

In Quảng Trị Province, as of Wednesday, all 2,280 vessels in the province received warnings about the tropical depression in the East Sea, prompting them to move to safety.

Local units assessed the condition of dams and reservoirs to identify and repair any damage, while also developing and updating disaster response plans for critical infrastructure and downstream areas.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Võ Văn Hưng directed coastal districts and Cồn Cỏ Island officials to continue guiding and managing vessels, including tourist boats, ensuring their safe evacuation from hazardous areas or to shelters and ensuring the safety of tourists on the island.

Meantime, Quảng Ngãi Province suspended all maritime activities, including passenger transport to Lý Sơn Island, starting from Wednesday noon until weather conditions returned to normal.

Chairman of the province's People's Committee Nguyễn Hoàng Giang told relevant units to keep track of vessels at sea, informing them of the storm’s trajectory to ensure safe evacuation from dangerous areas.

The provincial Education and Training Department was tasked to make a decision to temporarily close schools if needed.

In Quảng Nam Province, Colonel Hoàng Văn Mẫn, Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command, reported that border guard posts were closely managing the activities of vessels, ensuring the safety of residents, property and aquaculture on the islands and along the coast.

Tornado, heavy rains

In Hà Tĩnh Province, Nguyễn Khắc Phong, Party Secretary of Thịnh Lộc Commune in Lộc Hà District, reported that a tornado caused by the tropical depression damaged three homes and several structures in Nam Sơn hamlet, uprooting about 200 coastal trees.

Following the incident, local authorities mobilised community members, including the Women's Union and veterans to quickly repair roofs and damaged structures.

The Hà Tĩnh administration also instructed local authorities in coastal and mountainous districts to assess high-risk areas for flash floods, landslides and then evacuate local residents.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Hydrology said that the tropical depression was predicted to cause heavy rainfall between Wednesday and Friday across the north and central regions, with rainfall totals ranging from 100 to 300 mm and exceeding 500 mm in some places.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, the Central Highlands and southern regions would also experience moderate to heavy rain, with some areas seeing up to 150 mm.

Rainfall was expected to be most intense in the afternoons and evenings.

Head of the forecasting centre's office Nguyễn Văn Hưởng said that the tropical depression was likely to strengthen into a typhoon on Thursday, moving primarily westward before shifting to a west-northwest trajectory toward the central provinces.

With the forecasted rainfall, mountainous areas from Hà Tĩnh Province to Quảng Ngãi Province mus remain vigilant about the risks of flash floods and landslides.

By 7 am on Thursday, the typhoon was projected to be moving southwest at about 20 km/h, located approximately 210 km southeast of Quảng Trị Province and 120 km east of Đà Nẵng.— VNS