'Forecast still not commensurate with the development of storm number 3'

The forecast is still not commensurate with the complexity of the storm. Local authorities announced the storm but people do not know when it will make landfall.

'Localities should focus on post-disaster recovery and not be subjective in responding to floods after storm No. 3', that is the request of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention Nguyen Xuan Cuong at a meeting with members of the Steering Committee held this morning (August 20) in Hanoi.

According to the general assessment, the direction, management and inspection of response to storm No. 3 was carried out drastically and promptly from the central to local authorities, contributing to mitigating damage caused by storm No. 3. Coastal localities have basically evacuated people, however, in some areas, there is still a subjective mindset, still leaving people outside coastal aquaculture areas.

Major General Nguyen Van Nam

Storm forecasting needs further investment to improve forecasting and warning capabilities and provide accurate information, which is very important in directing and operating more effective disaster response.

Major General Nguyen Van Nam, Deputy Commander, Deputy Chief of Staff, Border Guard Command said: “The current forecast is still not commensurate with the complex developments of the storm. In fact, local authorities announced the storm but people did not see when the storm made landfall, which made it very difficult to direct. It is recommended that more investment be made in forecasting. Only with accurate forecasts can forces be mobilized to respond effectively to the storm.”

According to Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the negative impacts of climate change make floods and rains increasingly erratic, so local disaster response programs must take these factors into account, identify key risks and take response measures.

Based on the actual situation, localities closely monitor the developments of floods after storm No. 3. Strictly implement the Prime Minister's telegram on responding to floods after storm No. 3 and the Steering Committee on responding to storm No. 3.

Mountainous provinces continue to review and immediately evacuate people in dangerous areas with high risks of flash floods, landslides. Arrange guards at culverts, spillways, ferry piers, areas at risk of deep flooding, fast-flowing water to control and guide traffic to ensure people's safety. Implement flood control plans to protect rice and crops, ensure the safety of dams, reservoirs, and key irrigation works.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong at the meeting this morning

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong noted: “Identify unusual factors of climate change to include in the response program with the highest options and solutions. Localities from Nghe An to the North must send forces to closely monitor areas at high risk of flash floods, underground floods and overflows to guide people. Focus on draining water and taking care of rice and crops. Pay special attention to the 28 reservoirs that are currently full of water while the amount of water flowing into the lakes continues to increase.”

By this morning, storm No. 3 had killed one person due to being swept away by floodwaters in Sop Cop district, Son La province, and two people in Bac Giang and Hoa Binh provinces were missing due to passing through a tunnel. In Hanoi, three people were injured due to the storm.

Agricultural damage: about 5,844 hectares of rice and crops were flooded. Coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa evacuated 50,401 people from lagoons, guardhouses, and vulnerable houses to safety. (Minh Long/VOV-News Center).

Localities urgently overcome the consequences of storm No. 3

Due to the influence of storm No. 3, in the past two days, there has been heavy rain in the provinces of Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, causing the water levels of rivers and streams to rise, causing one person to be swept away by floodwaters, many houses to be submerged, and landslides on several inter-commune roads.

** Due to the influence of storm No. 3, last night, August 19, in Luong Son and Lac Son districts, Hoa Binh province, there was heavy to very heavy rain. In Luong Son district, the water level on the Bui River rose rapidly, reaching 0.49m above alert level 3, causing localized flooding in Luong Son town and neighboring communes. The rapid flood has isolated 3 households with 11 people in Coi hamlet, Tan Vinh commune.

The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Luong Son district mobilized nearly 100 officers, soldiers and police to conduct rescue operations and early this morning (August 20) brought 11 people to a safe shelter.

Previously, on the afternoon of August 19, rescue forces from Truong Son and Tien Son communes, Luong Son district also saved the lives of two people who were swept away by floodwaters while trying to cross the Nganh stream tunnel (Tien Son commune) and the overflow tunnel on Truong Son A road (Truong Son commune).

Red River water level rises

Floods also swept away one person in Lac Son district when he passed through Bui tunnel, Nhan Nghia commune. Currently, the rescue force of Lac Son district is deploying forces, actively searching for the missing person.

Mr. Bui Van Khanh, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lac Son district, Hoa Binh province said: “Currently, we are searching but have not found it yet. The total force mobilized is people, soldiers, and police, more than 100 soldiers have searched since yesterday afternoon and this morning. Currently, we have expanded the search downstream of the Buoi River to continue the search, expanding the search area to the downstream of the river and neighboring communes. We continue to direct the communes to continue paying attention to the spillways because in the area, people often subjectively pass through the spillways and give strong direction”.

** In Ky Son district, Nghe An province, due to heavy rain, the flood from upstream caused the water level on the Nam Mo river to rise more than 1 meter, sweeping away and inundating dozens of houses, and damaging many areas of crops. Heavy rain also caused landslides and blocked some inter-commune roads, such as the route from the center of Huoi Tu commune to Keng Du commune, and the rising water level of Tam stream flooded the spillway at Na Khuong village, Na Loi commune...

To minimize damage caused by floods, the People's Committee of Ky Son district has established teams to inspect the damage, help people evacuate to safety and set up barriers in areas at risk of landslides and flooding.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoang, Head of the Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Committee of Ky Son District, Nghe An Province said: “We mobilized the police, border guards and commune authorities to evacuate people from flooded areas. The district evacuated 200 to 250 people from landslide and flooded areas. Currently, motorbikes and pedestrians can enter, but cars have to go around. We will wait for the water to go down, then check again and support people.”

** According to the report of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Thanh Hoa province as of this morning (August 20), floods have caused heavy damage to many houses and crop areas in the mountainous districts of Thuong Xuan, Quan Hoa, and Muong Lat.

In Muong Lat district, heavy rain caused landslides in many places on National Highways 15C and 16C. Muong Lat District People's Committee is coordinating with the Department of Transport to mobilize forces and vehicles to be able to reopen the road today.

Mr. Tran Van Thang, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Muong Lat District, Thanh Hoa Province said: "On National Highway 16C, there are two points at km 16 and km 20 that have just collapsed this morning. Currently, the district is mobilizing all construction units and machinery to carry out the clearance. (Thu Hien/VOV-News Center)

Quang Ninh and Hai Phong suffered minor damage.

** According to information from the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, as of 5:00 p.m. on August 19, storm No. 3 no longer affected the areas of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. However, according to forecasts, the circulation after the storm will cause heavy rain over a large area. In order to proactively respond, the leaders of these localities have issued telegrams to proactively take measures to prevent heavy rain causing flooding, flash floods, and landslides in the area.

Hai Phong City leaders require ship owners to go ashore after their ships have been tied up against storms.

In Hai Phong on the night of August 19, only a few places had rain with gradually decreasing rainfall, cloudy sky, light wind. Some coastal districts such as Tien Lang, Do Son, An Lao... had calm weather, light rain, no damage to aquatic products or fruit trees. The whole city had 20 fallen trees, the roofs of 2 households in Thuy Nguyen district were blown off, some areas affected by heavy rain were flooded, affecting people's travel.

Mr. Pham Van Ha, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hai Phong, said that at the time the storm made landfall in Hai Phong, the entire city had 61 livestock farms operating outside the dike that were tied up, and some areas at high risk of being affected by the storm were moved to a safe location.

The aquaculture area of ​​11,262 hectares has just been stocked with fish and has been instructed by functional officers and local authorities on storm prevention and control measures to minimize damage caused by storms.

This is also the time when the suburbs have finished planting nearly 40,000 hectares of winter-spring rice; 4,200 hectares of vegetables. Irrigation construction companies have lowered the water level appropriately, ranging from 0.4 to 0.7m; organized forces to clear the flow, remove obstacles on main canals to increase the ability to drain water. Pumping stations are ready to operate. Some localities have mobilized field pumps to be ready to prevent flooding in some areas of fields where localized flooding occurs.

By the end of August 19, despite heavy rain, due to good drainage, the entire aquaculture, livestock and crop areas had not suffered any damage, and no areas had been flooded for long periods of time. Some aquaculture ponds in the Do Son area were at risk of flooding, but local authorities proactively opened drainage sluices, so the water in these areas drained quite quickly, without affecting newly stocked aquaculture areas.

** In Quang Ninh, storm No. 3 did not cause any human casualties but caused property damage, collapsing 11 houses in Van Don, Tien Yen, Binh Lieu, Dam Ha; blowing off the roofs of 6 houses in Van Don, Tien Yen, Dam Ha, Mong Cai; collapsing 1 transformer station in Van Don; 22 power and telecommunication poles were knocked down; 197 meters of canals were eroded; 7 houses had embankments and walls eroded; 50 hectares of rice and crops were flooded. The total damage was estimated at about 3.5 billion VND.

Currently, localities are continuing to monitor, direct damage statistics and immediate repair of collapsed houses, electricity and telecommunications systems; support families who have had to relocate, evacuate, or have had their houses collapsed or their roofs blown off to stabilize their lives; handle the drainage of buffer water in areas at risk of flooding, reservoirs, etc.

Ha Long Bay cruise ships resume operations after storm

Due to rising floods in rivers and streams, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province has issued a telegram directing localities, sectors and units to continue to inspect, provide direct guidance, prevent flooding, flash floods, landslides, etc., and promptly handle any incidents that may occur. Forces and vehicles are still on standby to rescue when required, and respond to incidents caused by storm circulation.

As for the coal industry, TKV Group has also directed units to regularly monitor and control the rain situation due to the impact of storm No. 3. Learning from the experience of the 2015 flood, we must be extremely vigilant with the developments of storm No. 3, not being subjective; strengthening inspections of vulnerable locations, PCMB works, underground mines, waste dams, etc. Regularly follow the production site, monitor the developments of the storm and coordinate with localities in PCMB work, evacuating households from areas at high risk of landslides and flooding.

Mr. Pham Xuan Thuy, Director of Vang Danh Coal Joint Stock Company said: “On the production side, we always have a force of 500 people divided into shifts. In addition, there are workers from other units on duty in production areas, mine areas, pumping tunnel systems, and power stations to serve water pumping and respond to the situation if there is a flood, following the response solutions that the company has proposed.”

Currently, the Quang Ninh electricity sector has restored power to about 174,000 customers. In the province, only about 30 transformer stations are still affected, causing power outages for about 10,000 customers in Co To, Binh Lieu and Ba Che districts. Of which, the majority is in Co To district.

The water has receded, and traffic in and out of Ba Che district has also been smooth again. Starting from 7am on August 20, tourist boats and island-going boats on Ha Long Bay have resumed normal operations, with weather conditions suitable for safe operation. On the morning of August 20, the Port Authority granted permission to leave the port for tourist boats with passengers visiting Ha Long Bay./. (Hoang Trinh/VOV-Northeast)

According to VOV