Mass evacuation expected ahead of super typhoon Noru landfall

VOV.VN - Central localities of Vietnam have formulated plans to evacuate nearly 900,000 residents from low-lying and mountainous areas to cope with super typhoon Noru which is expected to make landfall in a couple of days.

Noru which packed winds of approximately 200kph near its eye battered the Philippines on September 25 afternoon and is set to enter the East Sea on September 26 morning.

The super typhoon is forecast to maintain its great force when it will move in the East Sea before striking the central coast of Vietnam early on September 28.

Noru is a powerful storm that is moving at a very fast speed with large areas falling under the impact of the storm, stressed Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh who chaired an urgent meeting to cope with the super typhoon on September 25.

Based on the actual situation in each locality, it is necessary to carefully review all essential facilities and come up with timely solutions before the storm makes landfall, he said.

Noru is anticipated to pound the central coastal provinces stretching from Thua Thien – Hue to Quang Ngai on the night of September 27 or early on the morning of September 28, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

It is likely to cause a big spell of heavy rain, followed by flash floods and landslides in low-lying, estuary and mountainous areas, weather experts warned.

Over the past three days, the coastal provinces from Thai Binh to Ha Tinh and several Southcentral localities have collected 100-250mm of rain. Some localities such as Sam Son (Thanh Hoa), Quynh Luu (Nghe An) and Xuan Binh (Phu Yen) have even received more than 300mm of rain.

They have so far instructed nearly 60,000 fishing vessels with approximately 300,000 people on board to find nearby storm shelters or move to the shore.

Authorities of provinces from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan have drawn up evacuation plans for 868,230 residents of 213,914 households. Provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai which are expected to bear the brunt of the super typhoon have developed plans to evacuate a total of 368,878 local residents depending on the development of the storm.

Currently, relevant forces and local people are racing against time to reinforce fishing cages, public works, workshops, warehouses and coastal construction projects before Noru makes landfall.

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