Thousands of households along the coast in Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son and Lien Chieu districts were evacuated to safer areas. They were temporarily housed in schools and the headquarters of communal People’s Committees. Police, the armed forces and many young people were mobilised to stand by round the clock to help any local victims.

Huynh Thi Hoang Anh, a resident in Tho Quang ward in Son Tra district said: “All my family was moved to a safe area. I am pregnant and am very worried that my house may be destroyed because of the storm. In 2006, my house was swept away due to the storm Xangsane.”

The strong winds caused by Ketsana storm destroyed many houses, power lines and crops. The provincial Departments of Health asked hospitals to stand by 24 hours a day and prepare to deal with emergencies and environmental issues.

In Quang Nam province, more than 500 police and soldiers provided assistance to local victims and dealt with traffic problems caused by landslides. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee, said that the local authorities made every effort to move people in flood-prone areas to safer places. As a result, nearly 2,000 households on coastal areas were sent to high-rise buildings.

According to Pham Nhu Thao, Deputy Chairman of the Le Thuy district People’s Committee, it is essential to increase people’s awareness of just how dangerous the storm is so that they are ready to deal with the natural disaster.

Also on the night of September 28, nearly 2,600 households with 11,400 people from 22 communes the four coastal districts of Quang Tri were evacuated to safer areas. The Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee also called for food and oil to be supplied to the local victims.