Typhoon Molave gathers steam, makes landfall Oct. 28
VOV.VN - Typhoon Molave is building up steam and is forecast to slam into central Vietnam at noon October 28, according to the National Centre of Hydro-meteorological and Forecasting.
At 04.00am October 28, Molave was churning off the central coasts from Da Nang to Phu Yen, packing winds of 135kph with gusts of 150kph near its centre.
In the next 12 hours, the typhoon is anticipated to move west and north-west at speeds of around 25kph, make landfall and weaken into a tropical low depression.
Though the typhoon is expected to pound the central region at noon, strong winds are sweeping through Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces, while rain is also pouring down across the region, VOV has learned.
On the Prime Minister’s request, central localities have suspended all unnecessary meetings and pooled all resources to cope with the typhoon. Soldiers, policemen, militiamen and other forces have been deployed at danger areas to stay ready for rescue work.
According to VOV correspondents in the central region, 26 people are reported missing in Binh Dinh after their boats capsized off Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa coasts on October 27. Authorities deployed forces to search for the missing and at the same time asked other boats in danger areas to travel to storm shelters ahead of the arrival of the typhoon.
Meanwhile, in Phu Yen province, the provincial Military Command has put motorboats, armored vehicles and helicopters on standby to support search and rescue work if required.
Local authorities have evacuated people from the coastal and low-lying areas. Residents have reinforced houses, public works and fishing cages, while hundreds of off-shore fishing boats have found nearby shelters around the Truong Sa archipelago to avoid the path of the typhoon.
Molave first developed from a tropical low depression off the Philippine coast and it quickly picked up steam into a storm and then typhoon. It hit the Philippines October 26 and is heading towards central Vietnam.
This is the fourth storm to hit central Vietnam in a month. The previous storms have caused heavy rain, flashfloods and landslides, killing more than 100 people and leaving dozens missing.