Gia Lai still has more than 100 fishing boats in the danger zone of storm number 13.

Gia Lai province currently has 105 fishing boats in the danger zone of storm No. 13, this is a big concern for the government, functional agencies of this province and fishermen's families.

In the days before storm No. 13 made landfall, authorities of coastal communes and wards in the East of Gia Lai were busy checking, counting, and updating the full number of fishing boats and fishermen operating in the storm's dangerous area.

On the morning of November 5, information from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Gia Lai province said: Currently, this province still has 105 offshore fishing boats in the danger zone of storm No. 13; of which, 49 boats are in the danger zone in the next 24 hours and 56 boats are in the danger zone in the next 48 hours.

Gia Lai fishermen bring their fishing boats to anchor to avoid storm No. 13 at Quy Nhon Fishing Port. Photo: V.D.T.

At the direct and online meeting with departments, branches, sectors and 58 communes and wards in the eastern region of the province on preparations for storm No. 13 on the afternoon of November 4, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province directed coastal communes and wards to urgently review, count, and fully update the number of fishing vessels and fishermen operating in the dangerous area in the next 48 hours; notify and immediately contact ship owners and captains to proactively move away from the dangerous area and find safe shelter.

Closely monitor the storm's developments, regularly update the news from the Provincial Hydrometeorological Station; coordinate with the Border Guard Station, the Fisheries Sub-Department, and the Quy Nhon Coastal Information Station to promptly inform fishermen of the location, direction of movement, and developments of the storm so that fishermen can proactively avoid it. Maintain regular contact between local authorities, the Border Guard Station, the Fisheries Sub-Department, and fishing boat owners to handle emergency situations.

Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee also directed the Fishing Port Management Boards in the province to review and rearrange the anchorage areas to ensure safety, in accordance with the wind direction and current; to separate the fishing boats in and out to avoid storms, avoiding dense concentration that can easily lead to collisions between boats causing damage. Instruct captains of fishing boats to anchor in the right position and direction, ensuring a minimum distance between boats, avoiding collisions and mooring when there are strong winds and big waves.

At the same time, coordinate with local authorities and functional forces to guide and support fishermen during the anchoring process; proactively deploy plans to ensure the safety of people and vehicles at the anchorage area. Assign staff to be on duty 24/7 at fishing ports and wharves, coordinate with fisheries control and border guards to strictly control entry and exit from ports; do not let ships leave port when safety is not guaranteed or when they are still in the restricted sea area.

Check and prepare equipment, materials, and means for response, rescue, and relief such as: buoys, mooring lines, ropes, small boats, pumps, anchors, lighting equipment, announcement speakers... to ensure immediate use when a situation occurs.

At the same time, direct the Fisheries Sub-Department to organize a 24/24 communication shore station, regularly update and summarize information on fishing vessels operating at sea; coordinate with the Border Guard Station, Quy Nhon Coastal Information Station and local authorities to count, contact, warn and guide fishermen to move to safe shelter. Coordinate with functional forces to be ready to support search and rescue work at sea when an emergency situation occurs.

In Hoai Nhon Dong ward, the locality with the second highest number of fishing boats in the danger zone of storm No. 13 in Gia Lai province, Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, Chairman of the ward People's Committee, said: After counting, Hoai Nhon Dong ward finalized the number of fishing boats of fishermen in the area as 658, up to now only 15 boats are on shore, the rest are fishing at sea.

“The ward People’s Committee set up a separate Zalo group to contact all fishing boat owners and their families in the area. Through Zalo, the ward informed the danger level of storm No. 13 and the storm’s path so that boat owners could proactively move their boats out of the danger zone. The border guards also notified on their system,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep.

Fishing boats of Gia Lai fishermen anchored to avoid storm No. 13 at fishing ports in accordance with the correct location, distance and technical measures as instructed by the competent authorities. Photo: V.D.T.

In Phu My Dong commune, Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, said: this commune currently has 570 fishing boats, most of which go fishing in fishing grounds in other provinces. On the afternoon of November 4, the entire political system of Phu My Dong commune spread out to inspect the activities of fishing boats.

“Currently, 67 of the commune’s coastal fishing boats have arrived at De Gi Fishing Port to safely avoid the storm. Only 253 fishing boats fishing in the open sea and 250 fishing in the open sea are still at sea, but none of them are in the danger zone of storm No. 13. From the afternoon of November 4 to November 5, the commune’s functional sector will review and make efforts to call on the boat owners who are still fishing to move away from the danger zone if they cannot get to shore in time,” said Mr. Tran Van Phuc.

At fishing ports, the atmosphere of storm prevention No. 13 is also taking place in a hurry. On November 4, fishing ports focused on reinforcing cage houses, and at the same time, announced and used loudspeakers to encourage traders to proactively reinforce their kiosks in the fishing ports.

“From the afternoon of November 4 to 5, Quy Nhon Fishing Port will devote all its 28 staff to guiding fishing vessels to take shelter from the storm, anchoring at the right location, distance and complying with technical measures as instructed by the competent authority. Currently, large fishing vessels arriving at Quy Nhon Fishing Port will be guided to Phan Chu Trinh anchorage to avoid crowded anchoring in front of the fishing port when the storm comes, causing collisions and damage to the vessels,” said Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Deputy Director of Gia Lai Fishing Port Management Board.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/gia-lai-con-hon-100-tau-ca-trong-vung-nguy-hiem-cua-bao-so-13-d782358.html