>>> Flights cancelled as Tropical Storm Wipha approaches northern Vietnam
>>> More airlines adjust flight schedules due to storm Wipha
>>> Tropical storm Wipha to batter northern Vietnam with torrential rains
>>> New storm heads towards Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coast
At 7 am on August 3, the tropical depression’s centre was about 21.1 degrees north latitude and 106.5 degrees east longitude, on the plain of the northern midland and delta region, packing winds blowing at 40-50km per hour.
It is forecasted that in the next 12 hours, the tropical depression will move towards the west-southwest ward direction, at a speed of about 10km per hour and gradually weakening into a low pressure area in the southern region of the Northern Delta.
The tropical depression has caused strong winds to the region and the coastal Quang Ninh-Hai Phong area, with Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) suffering winds at 17m/s and Hai Duong 12m/s.
It has also brought about torrential rains for the North and North Central, with Mong Cai recording high rainfall at 249mm, Quang Ha (Quang Ninh) 168mm, Mau Son (Lang Son) 266mm, Son Dong (Bac Giang) 194mm, Bac Ninh 115mm and Chi Linh (Hai Duong) 112mm.
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Boats of Quynh Luu district’s fishermen in Nghe An province anchored at Lach Quen fishing port to avoid the storm. (Photo: NDO/Viet Hung)
The Gulf of Tonkin is forecast to suffer from strong winds and rough sea with sea waves as high as 2-3m today.
Heavy rains will last for the whole day on Saturday and even Sunday in the North and the North Central provinces, focusing on the northern delta and Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, with rainfall ranging from 100-200mm per 24 hours.
Hanoi is suffering from heavy rains on August 3, with the total rainfall ranging from 70-120mm.
Flash floods have been warned for Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces as heavy rains have been continuously pouring down to these localities since early Saturday morning.
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Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung (centre, in rain jacket with reflective line) leads a government delegation to inspect the storm prevention and control work in Quang Ninh province on Friday afternoon. (Photo: NDO/Quang Tho)
* To deal with storm Wipha, the third to hit the East Sea this year, a government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, inspected the response work in Quang Ninh province on Saturday afternoon.
The deputy PM urged Quang Ninh authorities to strengthen inspection in areas prone to landslides and flooding as the storm has a complicated path and could land during a high tide with strong winds. He also asked the province to have a plan to protect traffic works, coal mines and irrigation and hydropower systems.
* In the morning of the same day, in Hanoi, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control held a meeting to deploy storm response measures. In the past two days, in addition to prohibiting ships and boats from going to the sea, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh provinces have moved 4,471 people in coastal areas to safe places.
* According to the Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Steering Committee under the Border Guard Command, as of 6 am on August 2, the Border Guards have coordinated with the local administrations in the coastal areas to notify and guide 71,635 ships to storm shelter, while moving 7,907 aquaculture cages to safe places.
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Coast Guard soldiers under the Coast Guard Zone 1 Command assist local people in Bach Long Vi island, Hai Phong city to strengthen their houses against storm Wipha. (Photo: NDO/Manh Thuong)
* The Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provincial authorities have strengthened measures to cope with the storm’s circulation. However, heavy rains and whirlwinds in the past two days in Quan Son, Quan Hoa and Muong Lat districts in Thanh Hoa caused landslides, unfortunately killing one person in Sai Khao village, Muong Ly commune, Muong Lat district, while damaging 34 houses in Quan Hoa and Quan Son districts.
On Thursday afternoon, in Phuc Dong commune (Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh province), heavy rains with tornadoes claimed the roof of 45 houses in villages No. 5, 7 and 8.
* The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) cancelled nine flights from Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat on August 2 due to bad weather. Passengers on affected flights are supported by VNA to change to flights for free on the same itinerary.
