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Residents in the central province of Quang Binh prepare for typhoon Doksuri - billed as the strongest storm to hit the East Sea in a decade. (Source: VNA)
The national weather forecasting centre upgraded the Typhoon Doksuri barreling toward Vietnam from level 11 to 12 (of 18), with winds at its eye expected to reach 150km per hour.
Doksuri, said to be the strongest typhoon in a decade, is expected to make landfall between this afternoon and evening. It will directly hit Vietnam’s central region, including the four provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri.
The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) in its latest report at 9pm on September 14 said that the wind was at 135kph. By 7pm the same day, it was 360km off the coast of Ha Tinh province to Quang Binh province.
The NCHMF forecast rainfall of up to 400mm for localities in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri. Other provinces could get as much as 300mm of heavy rains. In the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La, rainfall of 50-200mm is forecast.
The centre said floods were predicted to occur in the river systems from Thanh Hoa province to Quang Ngai province between September 14 and September 17.
The urban areas of Vinh, Ha Tinh, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri and Hue were warned about flooding triggered by heavy rains. The northern region, including the capital city of Hanoi, will be hardly affected by the typhoon. It is expecting some rainfalls over the weekend, though.
Coastal provinces on September 14 continued making preparations.
In Nghe An province, students are off from school until the storm passes.
In Thanh Hoa province, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Quyen ordered authorities in mountainous areas to make plans to evacuate about 247,867 people living in areas at risk of landslides and flash floods.
Da Nang city said 162 ships carrying 1,300 fishermen near Quang Ngai, Thua Thien-Hue, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago of Vietnam, had received storm warnings and were heading for safe shelters.
The city banned all operations by fishing ships on September 13 evening, and set up emergency teams at vulnerable lowland areas in preparation for heavy rains.
Ships and cruise vessels around Cham Island in Quang Nam and Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province anchored safely at ports on September 14.
VNA
