Vietnam on full alert with Koguma set to make landfall in hours
VOV.VN - Northern and north-central provinces from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh have been put on standby as a tropical low depression strengthened into storm Koguma which is likely to make landfall in less than 24 hours.
Storm Koguma was located off of the nation’s Tonkin Gulf at 1:00 p.m. on June 12 and was heading towards the northern coast at speeds of between 15 and 20kph, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
The storm was recording wind speeds of up to 60kph, with gusts of 75kph near its centre. It is forecast to move west and north-west before making landfall in less than 24 hours with sustained winds of 75kph.
Koguma is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall and high tidal surges pounding northern and north-central localities from Quang Ninh to Nghe An.
In an urgent telegram issued on June 12, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue requested that localities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh swiftly make preparations ahead of the storm’s arrival.
Localities are also required to inform the owners of fishing vessels still operating out at sea of the storm’s movements and either seek storm shelters nearby or return to the shore. Delta and coastal areas have also been asked to protect fishing cages and sea dyke systems, evacuate residents from low-lying areas, and move to reinforce public works.
This marks the second storm that has formed in the East Sea and the first to hit Vietnam this year.
