Faced with the complicated developments of storm No. 3 (international name YAGI), Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and his delegation worked with the General Department of Hydrometeorology, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and relevant agencies.

The Deputy Prime Minister was present at the Hydrometeorological Operations Center to inspect the forecasting and warning work of Storm No. 3 as the storm was approaching the coastal areas of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. The Deputy Prime Minister directly called the monitoring force on Bach Long Vy Island to grasp the storm situation and encourage hydrometeorological staff at the center of the storm.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directly inspected the on-duty work and forecast of storm No. 3 at the Center for Meteorological Forecasting.

The strongest storm time is at 5:00 p.m. on September 7.

Inspecting the storm forecast area, the Deputy Prime Minister paid attention to the strongest wind level and especially the area affected by the storm. According to the forecast, the storm center will pass through the provinces of Quang Ninh and Thai Binh. The Deputy Prime Minister directed the Department of Search and Rescue to announce the immediate establishment of storm prevention steering committees in localities and hold meetings to command actions.

At this time, Bach Long Vy island area has no signal connecting to the Hydrometeorological Forecasting Center due to bad weather. The Deputy Prime Minister has directed the Director of the Rescue Department Doan Thai Duc to immediately call the military forces on the island, requesting to connect to the Hydrometeorological Station to grasp the situation.

Reporting to the working group and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on the developments of storm No. 3, Mr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that on the morning of September 7, the storm was in the northern Gulf of Tonkin, 120km east of Quang Ninh, with a storm intensity of level 14, gusting over level 17, continuing in the direction of Quang Ninh-Hai Phong. The storm will be at its strongest around 5:00 p.m. on September 7 in Quang Ninh province.

Wide range of strong winds; the area of ​​strong winds above level 8 has a radius of about 250km; the area of ​​strong winds above level 10 is about 150km, the area of ​​strong winds above level 12 is about 80km around the center of the storm.

Around noon on September 7, the storm moved inland to the northeastern provinces, with the eye of the storm passing through the provinces of Quang Ninh-Hai Phong with a level 12-13 intensity, gusting to level 14-15.

Thanh Lan commune, Co To district, strong wind level 13, gust level 16. Photo taken at 11:00 a.m. on January 7, 2024. Photo by Van Duc/VNA

According to Deputy Minister Tran Hoang Hiep, the storm will approach the shore at 11am, with its strongest at 5pm on September 7, with the strongest storm in Quang Ninh-Hai Phong. The storm will then move around Thai Nguyen, leaving Vietnam on the night of September 7. Immediately after that, heavy rain will appear, with the longest intensity in nearly 36 hours, and the heaviest rainfall of about 500mm. Therefore, the risk of flash floods, landslides, and flooding in the areas is very high.

“If the rainfall is over 500mm, we have additional concerns about reservoir operations. The storm-affected area has nearly 3,000 reservoirs, including a number of small hydroelectric reservoirs and over 800 small irrigation reservoirs that have now reached nearly 90% of their capacity. With 16 reservoirs having sluice gates, if the sluice gates are not opened and closed before the storm and are stuck, it will cause dangerous incidents. In addition, there is the risk of flooding if there is no smooth coordination between operating units,” Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep noted.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep also mentioned the risk of dike overflow in some coastal areas when the waves are too high.

Ensure storm response forces

Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister, the representative of the Hydrometeorological Station of the Northern Delta and Midlands said that the Co To monitoring station currently recorded strong winds of level 8-9, gusting to level 11. It is forecasted that this area will be greatly affected, directly affecting the production situation and people's lives; the risk of flash floods and landslides in some mountainous areas; the risk of urban flooding in the capital Hanoi. Some monitoring stations are facing difficulties due to strong winds. All monitoring stations have mobilized all forces to be on duty, fully equipped with monitoring equipment. Hydrometeorological staff are working with the highest spirit to provide the closest and fastest information to the people.

Minister Le Minh Hoan inspects storm prevention work at Yen Lap reservoir (Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province). Photo: Thanh Van/TXVN
Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister, Lieutenant General Doan Thai Duc, Director of the Department of Search and Rescue, Chief of Office of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, said that since 2021, the military forces have coordinated with local military commands to organize a military exercise to respond to super typhoons in Quang Ninh province; in 2023, units also conducted drills to respond to natural disasters and search and rescue in Hai Phong. Therefore, with storm No. 3, the military forces have promoted a proactive spirit, responded seriously, and closely followed the Government's direction on the storm.

Currently, military forces have been mobilized 24/7. Specifically, Military Region 1 mobilized more than 44,600 people, including more than 11,000 soldiers; 715 vehicles; Military Region 3 with more than 45,000 people, including more than 3,000 soldiers, 555 vehicles, 376 boats; Navy with more than 1,200 officers and soldiers, 169 vehicles; Air Defense - Air Force with more than 3,500 officers and soldiers, 44 vehicles, including 8 helicopters. Border Guard with more than 3,500 officers and soldiers, 259 vehicles. Some other forces were also mobilized such as: Coast Guard, Army Corps 18...

Beware of storm circulation number 3

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha acknowledged and highly appreciated the forecasting and warning work of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting for storm No. 3. Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister commented that storm No. 3 was forecasted quickly and quite accurately, consistent with the forecasts of a number of international stations in terms of scope, direction, intensity, complexity, etc.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that the Center continue to accurately assess the storm's developments, direction, and impacts within a radius of 100-150km in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Thai Binh.

With the storm at its strongest at 5 p.m. on September 7, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Center to provide people with the most accurate time the storm made landfall; the level, rules and characteristics when the storm made landfall.

In addition, forecasts and warnings need to be updated more quickly and more frequently, and attention should be paid to the most dangerous time when storms make landfall.

For island districts, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that it is necessary to calculate high wave plans to protect the safety of coastal dykes.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the storm's circulation will have a wide impact, including the midland and mountainous areas, the Red River Delta, and inland localities with very heavy rainfall and long periods of rain. There needs to be a plan to warn of flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding.

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that forces need to ensure communication with areas directly affected by the storm and areas with high population density; requested relevant ministries, agencies to increase vigilance, focus highly, and take measures to maintain smooth operations in response to storm No. 3; and prioritize ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.

The Deputy Prime Minister also said that in the face of the situation of storm No. 3 with very strong intensity, high level of natural disaster risk, complicated developments that are directly affecting the mainland of the Northeast and North Central regions of our country, the Government has established a Forward Command in Hai Phong to direct the storm prevention and control work. Immediately after the meeting with the General Department of Hydrometeorology, the Deputy Prime Minister's working delegation will go to Hai Phong to inspect the response work to storm No. 3 and the establishment of this agency./.
According to TXVN