Nghe An urgently calls on ships to return to avoid storm Mangkhut

Quynh Luu district has 1,200 fishing boats at sea, of which more than 700 are offshore fishing vessels. To cope with the storm Mangkhut, which is forecast to be very strong, with winds gusting to level 17, on the morning of September 15, Quynh Luu district held an emergency meeting, directing departments and coastal communes to seriously implement solutions.

As of 8:00 a.m. this morning, more than 200 fishing boats of Quynh Luu district have docked to avoid the storm; about 400 boats have received information that they are on their way to shore to avoid the storm; many fishing boats are still fishing at sea.

More than 200 fishing boats of Quynh Luu fishermen have returned to shore to avoid the storm, about 400 boats are on their way back to avoid the storm. Photo by Viet Hung

The Quynh Luu District Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Committee requested functional units to urgently contact fishing vessels fishing at sea to seek shelter from the storm, no later than tomorrow morning (September 16). The Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station coordinated with localities to propagate to fishermen to secure their boats and not to stay on board when the storm hits. Areas at risk of flooding need to have plans to evacuate people in case of adverse weather.

In Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau district), there are 464 ships, including 126 offshore fishing ships. Upon receiving news of the impact of storm No. 6, on the morning of September 15, ships in the commune rushed to the port to anchor safely.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, a fisherman from Dien Ngoc commune whose boat returned this morning, said: "As soon as we received the storm warning, we immediately packed up our fishing gear and returned to Lach Van port to take shelter."

Boats of Dien Ngoc commune anchored at Lach Van fishing port. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - Vice Chairman of Dien Ngoc Commune People's Committee said: As of noon on September 15, the commune has called on most of the boats to return to safe storm shelters. Currently, the whole commune has 8 large-capacity fishing boats, of which 3 are anchored at Cua Hoi port, 5 are anchored at Lach Quen port; the rest are on their way back to Lach Van port, expected to arrive this afternoon.

Dien Chau fishermen row their boats to ensure safety from the effects of storm Mangkhut. Photo: Quang An

Dien Chau district currently has 1,537 fishing boats, including 285 offshore fishing boats. Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dien Chau district said: After receiving news of storm Mangkhut, the district directed communes with fishing boats in the sea areas to immediately return to safe shelters at ports. On the morning of September 15, most of the boats found anchorages; currently about 20 boats are on their way back, expected to return today. The district directed localities to continue monitoring the storm's developments and coordinate with forces to respond promptly.