Telegram of Nghe An province on coping with storm No. 3

The content of the telegram clearly stated: According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, this morning (July 31), the tropical depression in the North East Sea has strengthened into a storm, storm number 3 (international name is WIPHA).

At 1:00 p.m. on July 31, the center of the storm was at about 19.2 degrees North latitude; 113.0 degrees East longitude, 250km east of Hainan Island. The strongest wind near the center of the storm is level 8, gusting to level 10. The radius of strong wind level 6, gusting to level 8 or higher is about 130km from the center of the storm. It is forecasted that in the next 24 hours, the storm will move in a West-Northwest direction, traveling 15km per hour and is likely to strengthen. Dangerous areas in the East Sea in the next 24 hours (strong wind level 6, gusting to level 8): North of latitude 16.5 degrees North; East of longitude 109.0 degrees East. In the next 24 to 48 hours, the storm will move in a West direction, traveling 5-10km per hour, and will enter the Gulf of Tonkin around tomorrow afternoon (August 1).

To proactively respond to storm No. 3, the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control requests the Chairman and Head of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of districts, cities and towns; the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command, Directors of Departments, Heads of provincial-level departments and branches; Directors of irrigation and hydropower companies in the province and related units to implement the following contents:

Fishermen in Quynh Phuong ward - Hoang Mai town anchor their boats to avoid storm number 2. Photo courtesy of Thanh Yen

1. For at sea:

Organize inspection and counting of boats and vehicles operating at sea to guide safe movement and shelter (including transport and tourist vessels). Guide boat anchoring, ensure safety for people and vehicles at shelters; organize and guide safety for tourists on the islands.

2. For coastal and delta areas and urban areas:

- Closely monitor the developments of storms, floods and rains; promptly inform the authorities and people to proactively prevent and avoid flooding, especially in urban areas, low-lying coastal areas, rivers, streams, and mineral exploitation areas; stock up on food, necessities, clean water, and medicine to proactively respond to heavy rains and floods according to the "4 on-site" motto.

- Check, review, and prepare plans to ensure safety for people in aquaculture cages; dyke systems, damaged works, and works under construction; ensure safety of dams, power systems, and communications; prepare forces and materials to respond to and promptly resolve incidents.

3. For mountainous and midland areas:

- Check residential areas along rivers, streams, downstream of lakes, dams, low-lying areas, riverside areas, outside river banks, areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, unsafe housing to proactively evacuate people to safe places.

- Inspect and deploy measures to ensure the safety of dams and downstream reservoirs, especially key dams under construction and repair, and the operation of hydroelectric reservoirs; proactively arrange forces, materials, and means to overcome incidents, ensuring smooth traffic on main traffic routes.

- Prepare flood prevention plans, ensure safety of flood prevention works according to alarm levels; organize patrols, check and review the preparation of forces, materials and means according to regulations.

4. Some specific tasks:

- The Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control monitors developments; promptly directs and urges the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control of districts, cities and towns to deploy appropriate response measures to the storm's developments.

- The Department of Transport directs to ensure safety for ships and means of transport; proactively arranges forces, materials and equipment in key areas at risk of landslides to be ready to immediately remedy incidents.

- The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs the implementation of measures to protect agricultural and aquatic production; ensure the safety of irrigation dams, dykes, etc.

- Department of Industry and Trade directs to ensure safety of dams, hydropower plants, power systems, and mineral exploitation.

- The Department of Construction directs to ensure safety for construction works, high-rise buildings, high towers, etc.

- The Department of Natural Resources and Environment directs the North Central Region Hydrometeorological Station to closely monitor the storm's developments, promptly forecast, and provide information to people and relevant agencies to serve the direction and response work.

- Provincial Military Command, Provincial Border Guard Command: Maintain forces and means ready to respond, rescue and salvage when required.

- Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper, Ben Thuy Coastal Information Station and other mass media increase broadcasting time, promptly report on developments of storm No. 3 and floods so that people know, proactively prevent, avoid and respond.

- Other departments and branches, according to their state management functions and assigned tasks, proactively coordinate with localities to deploy response and be ready to support localities in handling and overcoming consequences when requested.

5. Organize a 24/7 duty seriously and regularly report to the Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control./.