Storm Vamco wreaks havoc in central Vietnam

Storm Vamco wreaked havoc to the central region after making landfall in Quang Binh province and the southern part of the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 15).

Quang Binh Border Guards repair the roof of a kindergarten in Dong Hoi City after the facility was hit by Storm Vamco on Sunday, November 15, 2020. (Photo: NDO)
Quang Binh Border Guards repair the roof of a kindergarten in Dong Hoi City after the facility was hit by Storm Vamco on Sunday, November 15, 2020. (Photo: NDO)

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According to initial statistics, Vamco, the 13th typhoon to hit Vietnam so far this year, has caused significant damage to the property of local people in Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Quang Binh, also injuring five people.

The national weather service announced that at 1pm this afternoon, the storm's position was in the northern part of Quang Binh and southern part of Ha Tinh, packing winds of 60-75 km/h.

Debris on the street in Da Nang City after Vamco swept through on November 15, 2020. (Photo: NDO)

It is forecast that over the next six hours, the storm will move in a northwestern direction, at a speed of about 15 km/h, going deeper inland to Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces and then weakening into a tropical depression.

Bracing for the strong storm ,on par with the previous Storm Molave last month, localities from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai have moved 66,123 households and 216,886 people to safety .

A total of 59,752 boats with 289,062 people on board were alerted about the storm and helped to safe harbours.

The Ministry of Transport has banned the departure of inland waterway vessels in storm affected areas.

Fishing boats brought to safe anchor in Quang Ngai Province to protect them against Storm Vamco. (Photo: NDO)

On November 14, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response urged localities and the relevant ministries and agencies to have plans to ensure safety for aquaculture, seafood and other activities at sea, while proactively disconnecting electricity in the storm landing areas and closely monitoring irrigation and hydropower reservoirs.

On the same day, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong and a delegation from the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response went to Quang Binh province to inspect the storm response work. The minister suggested the province should have proactive response plans to minimise the damage caused by the storm and its circulation, urging the evacuation of people in dangerous areas, especially low-lying areas with a high risk of floods and landslides.

Workers from the Quang Binh Power Company conduct repairs after being hit by Storm Vamco on Sunday. (Photo: NDO)

The Government Office issued an official dispatch to the relevant ministries, agencies and agencies affiliated to the Government on supporting localities in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, with a focusing on supporting local people to repair their houses, repairing schools and providing school supplies to students to help them return to study soon, as well as supporting production recovery and repairing damaged infrastructure projects to soon stabilise people's lives and production.