Urgent response to storm No. 10: Early action, careful preparation, accurate forecasting, clear responsibility

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized: Storm No. 10 is very strong, dangerous and unpredictable. The storm's circulation stretches along the coast, affecting the entire North and Central regions. Photo: VGP/MK

Also attending the meeting were General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Minister of National Defense , leaders of ministries and branches, members of the Steering Committee, connecting online to coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Quang Ngai.

Storm No. 10 is very unpredictable, it is "storm on storm"

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the development of storm No. 10 is very unpredictable, it is a "storm on top of storm", so the forecasting work needs to be carefully analyzed, the forecasting time increased, and it needs to be compared with previous storms to assess the level of danger and the movement trend. In particular, the forecast must be accurate in terms of scope, direction and circulation. This is a type of storm that moves along the coast, which is very difficult to predict, easily causing errors and affecting people's prevention work, like the recent storm No. 5 which stopped right when it reached the coast.

In forecasting, three issues must be clarified. On the sea need to be strictly controlled, determine the time to limit and stop boat activities. When the storm makes landfall, it is necessary to update the forecast of high tides, big waves, and rising sea levels; identify key coastal works to focus on responding. The amount of rain caused by the storm, as well as the situation of reservoirs, hydropower, and irrigation to have an early response plan.

Regarding the direction of response work, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that we have just established the National Civil Defense Steering Committee and are gradually researching to build a systematic and effective management mechanism, linked to central-local decentralization, promoting the "four on-the-spot" principle, "Not only from each commune but also from inter-commune and inter-regional mobilization, forces and materials from many sources (from localities as well as central forces in the area, enterprises...); not only stopping at materials and equipment, but also ensuring communication, drinking water, food for people in isolated areas...", said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries and branches to provide accurate information on hydroelectric reservoirs, water reservoirs, flood forecasts, and rainfall on rivers, as a basis for localities to be responsible for implementation, and at the same time coordinate inter-commune forces, mountainous areas, and areas at risk of being cut off and isolated.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep suggested that localities also focus on reinforcing weak dykes. Photo: VGP/MK

The storm continues to strengthen, moving along the coast.

According to a quick report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, currently, storm number 10 is in the Central East Sea with intensity of level 11-12, gusting to level 15.

The storm continues to move much faster than initially forecast (about 35-40 km/h, nearly double the average speed), with strong storm intensity and wide range of influence, which can cause combined impacts of many types of natural disasters such as strong winds, heavy rains, floods, flash floods, landslides and coastal flooding.

Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that compared to the previous storm No. 9, storm No. 10 is not affected by cold air, the sea surface temperature is currently high (29°C), the circulation is wide and strong, the southwest monsoon is also active, adding abundant moisture, so the storm will continue to strengthen, with no sign of decreasing much before making landfall.

When approaching the sea about 200 km from Da Nang (dawn of September 28), storm No. 10 is likely to reach its strongest intensity, level 13-14, gusting to level 15-16; reaching the shore it is still level 11-12, coastal level 12-13.

It is forecasted that from the afternoon of September 28, coastal areas from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue, with a focus from Nghe An to Northern Quang Tri, will begin to experience strong winds of level 6-7, gradually increasing to level 12 when the storm makes landfall on the night of September 28 to the early morning of September 29. At sea, strong winds of level 8-9, areas near the storm center of level 12-13 from early morning of September 28, waves 5-7 m high.

Notably, storm No. 10 may coincide with high tide (4-8am), causing storm surges in the area from Binh Dinh to Ha Tinh to reach 1-2m, and even higher in Thanh Hoa - Nghe An. Combined with high tides and big waves, the risk of threatening dykes and coastal aquaculture areas is very high.

The storm's wide circulation also caused rain across the country from the afternoon of September 28 to September 30, with widespread rainfall of 100-300 mm, particularly in Thanh Hoa - Ha Tinh 400 mm, locally 600 mm, with a very high risk of flooding, flash floods, and landslides. After reaching the shore, the storm weakened into a tropical depression, continuing to cause heavy rain in Laos, with floodwaters possibly reaching Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that from 5pm tomorrow (September 28), strong winds of level 6 will affect Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri, so localities must ban the sea from noon today (September 27). Some places such as Thanh Hoa have proactively banned the sea from 6am. The Border Guard Command has notified, counted, and guided 67,970 vehicles/286,677 workers, of which 143 vehicles/1,335 workers are operating in the central East Sea area including Hoang Sa special zone, guiding ships to move safely, mainly to the South.

On land, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized the urgent need to complete the evacuation of people from dangerous areas before 5 p.m. tomorrow (September 28), to avoid people evacuating late when the storm has already entered, and to ensure essential goods on the spot due to the risk of isolation.

Localities must also focus on reinforcing key dikes: Thai Binh (Do Minh dike), Ninh Binh (Con Tron, Hai Thanh, Tinh Long dikes), Thanh Hoa (Quang Nam dike, Hai Binh sea dike), Nghe An (Huynh Tho, Long Thuan), Ha Tinh (Hoi Thong, Cam Nhuong, Nghen), Quang Tri (Vinh Thai dike).

Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said that when approaching the sea area about 200km from Da Nang (early morning of September 28), storm No. 10 is likely to reach its strongest intensity, level 13-14, gusting to level 15-16; reaching the shore it is still level 11-12, coastal level 12-13. Photo: VGP/MK

Regarding reservoirs, the Ma River basin still has flood control capacity, but in the Ca River basin (Nghe An, Ha Tinh), most hydroelectric reservoirs are full. Some reservoirs such as Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Ho Ho must discharge immediately to reduce the risk of "flood on flood". Ngan Truoi reservoir still has the capacity to cut floods for Northern Ha Tinh. The Huong River basin is currently stable.

Regarding production, the affected area still has about 45,000 hectares of rice that can be harvested urgently, concentrated in Thanh Hoa (35,000 hectares) and Nghe An (10,000 hectares). The armed forces are requested to support people in harvesting today and tomorrow.

Storm No. 10 is forecast to cause widespread flooding and landslides in the mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh, as well as heavy rains from Laos. Localities must prepare the "4 on-site" policy, food, provisions, and response plans.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense, said the Ministry will deploy forces to be present in key areas to prevent situations of separation, isolation, and loss of contact. Photo: VGP/MK

More than 240,000 officers and soldiers and 4,000 vehicles are on standby.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said that implementing the telegram of the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee, the Ministry of National Defense has issued instructions to the entire army, especially Military Region 3, Military Region 4, Military Region 5 - the areas directly affected. The force on standby currently has 240,580 officers and soldiers and more than 4,000 vehicles.

The military regions have requested the provincial Military Command to coordinate with localities to inspect, supplement plans, and proactively help people harvest rice and crops, and evacuate from flooded and landslide areas.

The Navy, Coast Guard, Air Defense - Air Force, and Army Corps 18 prepared rescue vehicles at sea and in the air. The telecommunications force, especially Viettel Group, reviewed the entire system to ensure smooth command from the central to the grassroots levels.

The Ministry of National Defense will deploy forces to be present in key areas, to prevent situations of separation, isolation, and loss of contact, and coordinate with localities to survey risky areas, ready to mobilize forces from the Central or local levels as required.

General Nguyen Tan Cuong said that forecasting work must combine science and experience, paying attention to the impact of post-storm circulation to make decisions on reservoir flood discharge and timely evacuation of people, avoiding passive situations.

The Ministry of National Defense will continue to maintain readiness, coordinate with local and on-site forces, increase propaganda on mass media, and avoid subjectivity after storm No. 9.

Regarding information work, the representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology said that the Ministry has issued a telegram requesting telecommunications enterprises to implement the "four on-site" policy, especially ensuring generators and fuel for BTS stations. Network operators are ready to roam within 30 minutes when a communication loss occurs, and VNPT has 180 satellite phones serving the provincial level, but the commune and village levels are still lacking. The Ministry also requested enterprises to strengthen backup transmission lines: fiber optic, microwave and satellite, and arrange satellite information vehicles to serve the direction work.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested localities to strictly implement the following timelines: Before 12 noon on September 27, absolutely control ships at sea, and by 5 pm on September 27, stop all activities at sea. Photo: VGP/MK

Two very important timelines

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that after the recent storm No. 9, which was internationally assessed as a super storm in the East Sea, Vietnam continues to face storm No. 10, which is forecast to be very strong, dangerous and unpredictable. Unlike storm No. 9, storm No. 10, after passing through the Philippines, did not weaken but continued to increase in intensity, with the possibility of going straight into our mainland at a very fast speed of 35-40 km/h. The storm's circulation stretches along the coast, affecting both the North and Central regions.

Affirming the guiding spirit of early prevention and absolute initiative, the Deputy Prime Minister requested localities to strictly implement the timelines: Before 12 noon on September 27, absolutely control ships at sea, and by 5 pm on September 27, stop all activities at sea, "absolutely no delay".

Regarding the evacuation of people, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with localities to accurately identify areas with strong winds, important coastal areas, vulnerable dykes, and combine high tides and rising sea levels to make decisions on early and safe evacuation of people.

The plans must take into account the situation of dike breaches, proactively reinforce, prepare materials, rocks, equipment and mobilize forces according to the "4 on-site" principle. The list of units, organizations and individuals with machinery and equipment must be clearly established to avoid confusion and inability to mobilize in time when the storm hits.

Regarding reservoirs, hydropower, and irrigation, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to closely coordinate inspections and clearly define the responsibilities of the management unit and the Head of the local Civil Defense Command. "We cannot wait until the reservoir is full and the water has to be released before we worry about handling it. Responsibility must be clear and authority must be determined from the beginning."

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that information must reach fishermen and people in vulnerable areas, not only through newspapers and radio but also through text messages, national defense systems, border guards, and coast guard. Photo: VGP/MK

Fully prepare "4 on-site", especially in mountainous, remote and isolated areas

Regarding forces and means, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that localities and forces responding to storm No. 10 must fully prepare the "4 on-site" plan. For mountainous, remote and isolated areas, the "4 on-site" is even more important: food, water, medicine, and communication must be prepared in advance. Localities must isolate risk areas, have scenarios for connecting information, traffic, rescue, and mobilizing specific machinery and forces. Military regions coordinate with localities to inspect rivers, streams, and small lakes at risk of landslides and flash floods to have a plan for handling in advance. "The list and mobilization plan must be specific, with clear contact points," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister also paid special attention to information, forecasting and communication work. This is an extremely important task. Forecasting agencies must provide scientific and accurate information, along with specific recommendations so that people can understand, not be subjective, nor panic. "Information must reach fishermen and people in vulnerable areas. Not only through newspapers and radio, but also through text messages, national defense systems, border guards, and coast guard.

Telecommunications enterprises, the military, Viettel, and VNPT must ensure uninterrupted communication, even in the event of widespread power outages.

Regarding operational responsibility, the National Civil Defense Steering Committee is responsible for inter-provincial and inter-sectoral coordination. The locality is the place where the implementation is directly organized. The army, police, and local forces must have a firm grasp of the area, be fully equipped, and be ready.

"Immediately after this meeting, comrades urgently deploy specific tasks. Responsibility must be attached to each level, each sector, each specific individual," said the Deputy Prime Minister and requested the working delegations of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee to directly inspect and promote the response to storm No. 10 in key localities, "few meetings, many scenes", grasp the situation, have scenarios ready to deploy immediately when needed.

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202509/khan-truong-ung-pho-bao-so-10-hanh-dong-som-chuan-bi-ky-du-bao-dung-trach-nhiem-ro-e170d78/