Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang presided over a meeting to direct the response to Storm No. 1 and the subsequent flooding
According to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, to ensure the safety of residents as Storm No. 1 makes landfall, coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh are expected to evacuate approximately 29,887 people (Quang Ninh 700, Hai Phong 8,691, Thai Binh 19,021; Nam Dinh 1,128; Ninh Binh 347).
According to statistics from the Standing Office of the Steering Committee, coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Nghe An have a total aquaculture area of 119,803 hectares, 3,806 watchtowers, and 20,189 cages/rafts. Local authorities have informed residents about the storm so that they can proactively implement safety measures.
Mr. Pham Duc Luan, Head of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, reported that there are currently 487 reservoirs and 20 under-construction reservoirs in the Northern provinces. The dike system in the Northern region and Thanh Hoa and Nghe An has 289 critical points locations. There are also 8 unfinished construction projects and 4 dike locations that have experienced incidents but have not been thoroughly resolved. These areas require attention and the implementation of protective measures.
Pham Duc Luan, Head of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, quickly reported on the direction and response to Storm No. 1
According to the report, the dike system in the Northern region and Thanh Hoa and Nghe An has a total length of 6,692 km (411 km of sea dikes, 463 km of river mouth dikes, and 4,869 km of river dikes); of which: 289 critical points locations (263 river dikes; 26 sea and river mouth dikes); there are 8 unfinished construction projects and 4 dike locations that have experienced incidents but have not been thoroughly resolved, requiring attention to implement protective measures.
According to the forecast by the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 04:00 on July 17th, the storm center was at 20.0 degrees North latitude; 113.5 degrees East longitude, about 340km east-southeast of Leizhou Peninsula (China). The strongest wind is level 11-12, gusting to level 15. In the next 24 hours, Storm No. 1 is expected to move west-northwest at a speed of 15-20km/h; intensity level 11-12, gusting to level 15. From early morning on July 18th, coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh will experience increasing winds up to level 6-7, then increasing to level 8, near storm center level 9-10, gusting to level 13; inland areas in Northeastern region level 6-7, gusting to level 9. In the next 24 to 36 hours, Storm No.1 will move west-northwest at a speed of 15-20 km/h per hour and gradually weaken.
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Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported the developments of Storm No.1
At the meeting, Mr. Vu Van Dien, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, reported that over the past two days, Quang Ninh province has focused on directing, issuing telegraphs, and organizing inspections in localities to ensure the best possible preparation for Storm No. 1. Currently, Quang Ninh has arranged for more than 1,000 people to be on standby for Storm No. 1. Mr. Dien added that the province has more than 6,000 boats, of which 231 offshore fishing boats have entered safe anchorage areas. With regards to aquaculture, Quang Ninh has 14,000 cages that have been checked and secured to ensure safety when the storm makes landfall. “All elderly people, children, and women have been brought to safety,” said Mr. Dien..
n terms of tourism activities, Quang Ninh will prohibit sea activities and halt all boats from going out to sea at noon today (July 17th). Currently, Quang Ninh has approximately 4,000 tourists who will be brought back to the mainland before the storm makes landfall. For tourists remaining on the islands of the province, accommodation and meals will be arranged to stabilize the situation.
According to Hai Phong’s forecast to be in the center of Storm No. 1 when it makes landfall, Mr. Nguyen Duc Tho - Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee - stated that on July 16th, the city issued documents directing localities and organized a delegation to inspect Storm No. 1 prevention and control measures. The city also called on fishing vessels to communicate with 1,918 vessels with more than 6,000 people to come ashore to avoid the storm and find safe anchorage. Currently, all 1,731 vessels have returned to safe anchorage positions, Mr. Tho informed.
On Bach Long Vi Island there are 27 vessels currently in port and 8 vessels operating within 1-5 nautical miles of the island and within control range. On Cat Ba Island there are 45 tourist boats operating in enclosed bays and 156 NTTS cages being controlled. “As for tourism activities, Hai Phong currently has approximately 9,600 guests staying and the city is focusing on disseminating information and encouraging tourists to return to the mainland today and tomorrow morning; if guests want to stay in the city we will arrange safe food and accommodation,” said Mr. Tho. According to Mr. Tho, at noon today Hai Phong will not receive tourism activities and by 9pm on the same day will prohibit sea activities.
In response to the complex and unpredictable developments of Storm No. 1, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized: “Although the Steering Committee and localities have experience in storm prevention and control, they must not be complacent or negligent.” The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized and suggested that the Steering Committee and localities implement Official Dispatch No. 646/CD-TTg dated July 16th, 2023 directing ministries, branches and localities to focus on responding to the storm effectively. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang also suggested that the Steering Committee and localities need to be proactive and flexible; coordinate well and prepare thoroughly before, during and after the storm makes landfall on land without causing human losses and minimizing property damage as much as possible.
