Urgent call for ships and boats to avoid Typhoon No. 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested that all forces review ships and boats and prepare necessary rescue forces.

On the afternoon of January 4th, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai chaired an emergency meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control to discuss measures to cope with Typhoon Sonamu (Typhoon No. 1). As of this morning, border guards in provinces and cities from Da Nang to Ca Mau have coordinated with local authorities and families to inform, count, and guide 46,630 vessels operating at sea about the typhoon's developments so they can proactively take preventive measures.

In the Spratly Islands and south of latitude 11 degrees, there are 6,955 vessels with 32,700 people on board. Of particular concern, 869 vessels with over 8,000 people are currently operating in the Spratly Islands within the path of the storm's center.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent diplomatic notes to Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and China requesting assistance for fishermen who encounter problems at sea.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue requested the Border Guard, Navy, Coast Guard, Military Region 7 and Military Region 9 to strengthen their forces and vessels to proactively prepare for any adverse situations that may arise.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat stated that this was the first storm of the year, so people tend to be complacent. Meanwhile, most of the boats were small and lacked communication equipment, making communication difficult.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai instructed ministries, agencies, and localities to closely monitor the storm's developments, intensify efforts to continue counting and urgently calling for rescue of vessels operating in the area, and strictly manage vessels going out to sea.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested border guard forces to inspect vessels, and the Navy to prepare forces for necessary rescue operations. Coastal localities were instructed to monitor developments promptly and promptly address any potential adverse situations, paying attention to organizing the anchoring and securing of fish and shrimp farms.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention to learn from experience and instruct localities to strengthen the management and inspection of necessary equipment on ships, especially life jackets.

Also at the meeting, the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention announced that fishing vessel BD 95419TS had reached fishing vessel BD 95427 and brought 4 crew members ashore safely on the morning of January 3rd.

Currently, the fishing vessel BD 96430TS, which has a broken propeller, is drifting. By this afternoon, the Navy's Truong Sa 20 vessel had reached the ship and will tow it ashore tonight.

According to (vov.vn) - LT