Satellite image of Super Typhoon Mangkhut (Source: nchmf.gov.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - Super TyphoonMangkhut, thestrongest typhoon so far this year, is predicted to hit Vietnam’s northernregion on September 17 morning and bring heavy downpours and strong winds to 27northern and north central provinces and cities.
Speaking at the onlineconference on responding to Typhoon Mangkhut on September 14, Hoang Duc Cuong,Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHF),said Mangkhut is the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, becoming thestrongest storm of this year with sustained winds of 220km per hour.
At 1am on September 14, thestorm’s eye was some 680km east-southeast of Luzon Island ofthe Philippines. The storm is forecast to move northwest at 20km per hour, heading tothe East Sea and affecting the Tonkin Gulf in thenext 48 hours.
It will hit the mainland on September 17,causing heavy downpours covering the northern and north central regions from September17-19.
Cuong said that apart from strong winds, roughseas and strong waves, the storm would bring heavy rainfall of 200-350mm to thenorth. Most reservoirs in the Red River delta and from the north down to the centralprovince of Nghe An are nearly full due to weeks of heavy rain.
Flash floods are also predicted in Quang Ninh, LangSon, Cao Bang and Thanh Hoa provinces following heavy downpours.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy PrimeMinister Trinh Dinh Dung asked localities to urge off-shore vessels to findshelter and guide other vessels to approach anchorage areas to ensure safety. Thework must be finished before 10am on September 16.
Dung also asked localities to harvestaquaculture products early and organise the evacuation of people fromaquaculture zones and low-lying areas before 5pm on September 16.
Traffic on key sites such as bridges will bebanned during the weekend. Special teams will be deployed to check flash flood-prone areas and notify and relocatepeople to safe places. Food, means of transport and communications must bewell-prepared in case of emergency situation.
Dung has urged the Central Steering Committeefor Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment to hold regular meetings to closely monitor the development of thestorm and floods to promptly undertake response measures.
The National Committee for Search and Rescue,the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security have been asked todeploy forces and means of transport in the key areas to rescue affected peopleand ensure security and order.-VNA
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