LookAtVietnam – Initial losses have been reported in the central coastal provinces of Phu Yen and Binh Dinh, with two deaths, one missing person and three injured.

Residents in the central province of Binh Dinh battle Storm Mirinae.

In Binh Dinh Province, the storm swept one man away and injured two people. It also destroyed 186 houses and 890ha of rice and cereal crops.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecast reported that the storm had caused heavy rains with gusts up to 133km/h and choppy seas for provinces from Quang Nam to Binh Thuan.

Coastal areas from central Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa provinces have been warned to be on the watch for rising sea levels coupled with a 2-4m tide.

Mountainous areas have been told to watch for landslides, and low-lying areas have been warned about flooding.

The storm was predicted to move at a speed of 20-25km/h in a west-southwest direction and to downgrade into a tropical low pressure by early morning today, November 3.

The tropical low pressure is predicted to go deep inland and dissipate later today after hovering around the southern region of the Central Highlands and southeast provinces.

However, the centre warned that Mirinae’s development and movement could be complicated due to the impact of a tropical low pressure formed on Sunday morning 800km away from the storm.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat yesterday directed those involved in storm and flood prevention in central Phu Yen province to prepare for Miranae.

As of yesterday, the province had succeeded in bringing 850 boats ashore and evacuating nearly 1,700 households out of dangerous areas.

In Binh Dinh Province, about 5,000 households with 16,000 residents were moved to safe areas. All schools in the province had been closed to ensure safety for students.

According to border guard forces, more than 18,000 boats with nearly 104,000 fishermen operating offshore have been informed about the storm and guided to shelters.

Fishermen in central Thua Thien-Hue city, Quang Nam, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa have all been prohibited to go out to sea.

Typhoon

Nguyen Van Le, deputy head of the Quang Ngai’s Ly Son District’s Flood Prevention Committee, said many residents who had experienced the devastating Ketsana in September carefully reinforced their houses.

Still, 40 hectares of garlic were badly destroyed by the storm, he added.

Heavy rain was seen in the central provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Quy Nhon.

Truong Ngoc Nhi, head of Quang Ngai Province’s Flood Prevention Committee, said before the typhoon arrived, rain was heavy in Duc Pho, Mo Duc and Tri Son districts.

The province had moved 450,000 people out of the area.

Truong Trong Nhi, deputy head of Quy Nhon Province People’s Committee, said the army and public security forces were prepared to move more people out of the area, as landslides were also a possibility.

The province, which has 279 fishing boats and 2,524 fishermen, has attempted to contact all fishermen to tell them to find shelter.

Provincial authorities have asked all primary and high school students in the areas to stay home.

Vo Lam Phi, head of the Flood Prevention Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, said all of the districts of the province had heavy rain and the fishing boats managed by the localities had been helped to shelter at safe places or brought to the mainland.

The most worrisome was the heavy rain combined with high tides, which could cause severe flooding, Phi added.

Binh Dinh Province has told people in the province not to go out and closed all schools.

Around 1,731 households with 7,528 people were moved out of the storm-hit area in the province.

Officials from the province’s Flood Prevention Committee were on duty at areas with strong winds to help people take preventive action.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News