It is expected that Conson will bring heavy rain from now to September 13 to coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai. Photo: VNDMS

Quang Nam is expected to move 172,373 people to safer grounds, while its neighbours Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue will evacuate 67,000 and 70,000 people respectively. Elsewhere, Da Nang and Quang Ngai will also evacuate more than 80,000 people, VOV reported.

The information was unveiled at an online meeting on September 11 between the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and relevant ministries, sectors and coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai.

Mai Van Khiem, deputy director of the national Centre of Hydro Meteorological Forecasting, reported Conson would be downgraded before it pounds central coastal localities on September 12.

At 01.pm on September 10, the typhoon was churning around the waters about 140km off the central coast with winds gusting 90kph. In the next 24 hours, Conson will move west at a speed of 5-7kph and head toward the mainland from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai.

Border guards in Ha Tinh province help fishing boats reach safe places ahead of the typhoon. Photo: Sai gon Giai phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper

Though Conson is yet to make landfall, strong winds and rainfall of 100-250mm were recorded from coastal localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Binh Dinh on September 10. The typhoon also caused sea surges of 4-5m high and winds gusting 75kph.

It is expected that Conson will bring heavy rain from now to September 13 to coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, with rainfall likely to climb as high as 200-300mm, or even over 350mm.

Weather forecasters warned about risks of flooding in 40 districts of provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, and risks of flash floods and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas of Quang Tri, Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Kon Tum provinces.

After Conson, the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls Bien Dong Sea, should expect another 6-8 storms and tropical depressions this year, with 2-4 of them directly affecting Vietnam, VnExpress cited meteorologists as saying.

Losses caused by natural disasters

Vietnam lost a total of VND508 billion VND (US$22.14 million USD) due to natural disasters in the first half of this year. Photo: VNA

Vietnam lost a total of VND508 billion VND (US$22.14 million USD) due to natural disasters between January and June this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The disasters left 34 people dead and missing, and 51 others injured.

Meanwhile, 6,600 cattle and poultry were killed; 47,500 ha of rice and 12,400 ha of vegetables damaged; and 7,938 houses collapsed, and were swept away or flooded.

According to Tran Quang Hoai, General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s General Department of Disaster Prevention and Control, Vietnam was hit by 14 storms, a depression, 120 flash floods and landslides, 90 earthquakes, and other types of natural disasters last year, with 357 fatalities and economic losses of VND39.96 trillion.

Natural disaster response

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered ministries, sectors and localities to stay ready to respond to natural disasters, Vietnam Plus said.

In his latest dispatch sent to the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control; the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue; ministries, ministerial-level agencies and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, PM Chinh stressed that it is currently the peak time of storms and floods.

To actively respond to natural disasters, protect people's lives, and minimise losses, especially amidst the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government leader requested the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue to direct ministries, sectors and localities to review and update response plans, and instruct the operation of reservoirs and the effective exploitation of water resources.

It is necessary to prepare personnel, vehicles and equipment to promptly support localities in dealing with any disasters and conducting search and rescue missions when necessary.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to keep a close watch on the weather, and give timely and reliable forecasts and warnings./.

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