21 provinces and five ministries prepare for multiple disasters over the next 10 days

Vietnam’s National Civil Defense Steering Committee has called on 21 provinces and cities and five ministries to prepare for a succession of possible natural disasters over the next 10 days.

The request, issued on the afternoon of September 8, followed a forecast from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s hydrometeorological agency. From September 9, a tropical convergence zone is expected to form over the South China Sea, with its axis crossing the central central region. A tropical depression could develop in the central part of the sea around September 12-13 and may later strengthen into a storm.

The northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin is expected to see strong northeast winds at force 5, occasionally force 6, with waves reaching 2 to 3 meters. On September 8, the northern and central South China Sea, including the Truong Sa special administrative area, also faced a high possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts at force 7-8 and waves above 2 meters.

Central Vietnam could experience widespread moderate to heavy rain from September 10 to 17. Authorities warned of a high risk of tornadoes, lightning, flash floods, landslides and localized flooding. The steering committee urged local authorities to review high-risk areas and evacuate residents threatened by deep flooding, flash floods or landslides.

The instructions went to provinces and cities stretching from Quang Ninh to An Giang, as well as the ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Construction, Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs. Authorities were asked to monitor forecasts and the tropical depression, warn captains and vessel owners, closely supervise boats operating in bays, coastal waters and around islands, and maintain communications for emergencies. Local agencies were also told to keep response forces ready and provide residents with guidance on reducing risks from the expected weather systems.