Urgent response to tropical depression strengthening into storm

On the morning of August 1, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control held an online meeting with provinces and cities to propose proactive solutions to respond to the tropical depression in the East Sea that is strengthening into a storm.

Party Central Committee members: Trinh Dinh Dung - Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response - Search and Rescue and Nguyen Xuan Cuong - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development chaired the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung requested localities and ministries to be proactive in dealing with tropical depressions that could potentially strengthen into storms. Photo: Source Thanh Nien Newspaper

There are still over 16,000 vessels and boats that have not yet taken safe shelter.

The tropical depression after forming until today is still moving steadily in the West Northwest direction, traveling 15-20 km per hour and has the potential to strengthen into a storm.

At 1:00 a.m. on August 2, the storm center was located at about 19.2 degrees North latitude; 107.8 degrees East longitude, in the Gulf of Tonkin and about 120 km south of Bach Long Vi island district, with the strongest wind near the storm center at level 8 (60-75 km/h).

At 1:00 a.m. on August 3, the storm center was at about 20.3 degrees North latitude; 105.2 degrees East longitude, on the mainland of the Southern Red River Delta and Thanh Hoa.
In Nghe An, last night and early this morning due to the influence of a tropical depression, there was moderate to heavy rain in the area, with rainfall from 7:00 p.m. on July 31 to 7:00 a.m. on August 1 ranging from 20 to 40 mm.

Nghe An bridge point participated in the meeting chaired by comrades: Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Phu Huong

The whole Nghe An province has 3,488 vehicles/17,440 workers directly fishing at sea. As of 7:30 a.m. on August 1, there were 471 vehicles/2,373 workers operating in the coastal area of ​​Nghe An; 98 vehicles/653 workers anchored outside the province; 30 vehicles/270 workers in the common fishing area and 2,889 vehicles/14,144 workers anchored at the port.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu said that the province is currently implementing measures to ensure that by the end of this afternoon (August 1), all vehicles return to safe shelters. In addition, all aquaculture owners have been informed about the storm and have proactively taken measures to prevent and minimize damage to 18,670 hectares of aquaculture.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu said that Nghe An has prepared response plans. Photo: Phu Huong

Minimize damage from dangerous weather patterns

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung emphasized: In the face of the complicated developments of the tropical depression, first of all, relevant sectors and localities must have plans to ensure safety at sea, bring over 1,600 vehicles with more than 8,000 workers to safe shelter; protect 25,000 cages and aquaculture farms, and not allow people to stay on cages and rafts during storms.

In the coastal plains, it is necessary to have a plan to evacuate people, especially in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Nam Dinh, etc.; ensure safety for tourists; protect agricultural production, residential buildings, offices, public works such as kindergartens, schools, hospitals, etc.; production facilities, industrial parks, services, and dike systems.
In particular, the recent hot weather has caused severe storms and strong gusts of wind, so localities must be proactive in evacuating people from dangerous areas, prone to landslides when there are flash floods in mountainous and midland areas. There must be a suitable reservoir operation plan, both ensuring the safety of dams and reservoirs and retaining water for production.

Nghe An completed construction of the Sam Sam sea dike (Quynh Luu) before the storm season. Photo: Phu Huong

Assign members of the Steering Committee, relevant ministries, branches and especially localities, within their scope of responsibility, to have appropriate plans, closely monitor the situation of natural disasters, handle arising issues, ensure the safety of people's lives and property, and the State; proactively develop response plans with the "4 on-site" motto but at the same time must be associated with Covid-19 prevention and control.

For issues beyond authority, report to the Deputy Prime Minister for handling. Proactively monitor closely, respond promptly and effectively to possible situations to minimize damage to the people and the State.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung emphasized