Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha: Responding to storm No. 13 in a 'more urgent state'

On the morning of November 5, at the Government Headquarters, chairing a meeting directly connecting online with provinces and cities on emergency response to storm No. 13 (storm Kalmaegi), Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense, requested localities, ministries and functional branches to put the work of preventing and fighting storm No. 13 (storm Kalmaegi) in a "more urgent and dangerous state".

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Viet Duc/VNA

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Storm No. 13 is a "very unusual" storm, forming late in November, moving fast (25 km/h) and with strong intensity. The storm occurred in a context where many localities were still overcoming the consequences of previous natural disasters; irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs were full of water, and landslides and flash floods were still complicated.

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment at the meeting, storm No. 13 entered the East Sea early on the morning of November 5. By 4:00 a.m. on November 6, the storm center was about 550 km east-southeast of the coast of Gia Lai province, continuing to strengthen with winds of level 14, gusts of level 17. The storm is expected to make landfall from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on November 6, focusing on the Quy Nhon area and a part of southern Quang Ngai province. Winds when reaching the shore can gust at level 13-14, posing a danger to houses. By 4:00 a.m. on November 7, the storm center was on land from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak, with winds of level 9-10, gusts of level 12.

Storm No. 13 is forecast to cause very heavy rain from Da Nang to Dak Lak on November 6-7, generally from 300-500 mm, locally reaching 600 mm/period. Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang assessed that this is a very strong, fast-moving storm, with a level 4 natural disaster risk level.

Also at the meeting, leaders of the localities: Da Nang , Quang Ngai, Hue, Quang Tri reported on preparations to respond to storm No. 13 according to the "4 on-site" plan, evacuating people from dangerous areas.

Quang Tri province's leaders said that in response to storm No. 13, more than 8,600 fishing vessels at sea have entered safe anchorage; 83 vessels operating at sea have received information about the storm and are moving to find shelter. The province has banned ships from going to sea since November 4. Dams are basically safe, with capacity reaching about 89.5% of the design, and flood control is expected to be on November 5-6 to bring them back to safe levels. The whole province has 34 high-risk landslide points and 128 landslide points on river banks and coastlines; 100% of people in high-risk areas have been evacuated, warning signs have been placed and forces have been deployed. The province has implemented the "4 on-site" policy and deployed forces in 5 key defense areas. The evacuation plan is expected to cover over 1,000 households in 9 coastal communes; more than 2,200 households in flooded areas; 415 households in the area suffered landslides due to prolonged rain and floods. The province has allocated 200 billion VND in support from the central government and is allocating another 100 billion VND to overcome natural disasters and repair infrastructure.

Hue city leaders said the city is overcoming the consequences of the floods from October 25th until now; focusing on regulating water at Huong Dien, Binh Dien and Ta Trach lakes, with an expected flood capacity of about 300 million m3. The whole city still has 18 flooded communes with 15,156 households. In the highlands, students have returned to school. Electricity and water supply systems have been restored. Traffic is basically smooth. 100% of the force is on duty to provide relief and support to the people.

According to the leaders of Da Nang city, there is still localized flooding in the area, the land in the western area is waterlogged, and there is a high risk of landslides. Currently, 81 fishing boats operating at sea have been contacted and moved to shelters, no boats are in dangerous areas. The city has directed the evacuation of people from dangerous areas and widely informed about flooded areas. The landslide on the coast of Hoi An is considered very urgent. The military has deployed temporary remedial measures.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Viet Duc/VNA

Responding to storm No. 13, Quang Ngai province's leaders have strongly directed localities and units according to the province's plan and the storm's developments. Up to now, 6,005 ships have docked. It is expected that by 5:00 p.m. on November 5, the arrangement of ships in the dock will be completed, no one will be left on board, and the electrical system for fire and explosion prevention will be checked. The remaining 417 ships are being notified by the Border Guard and Coast Guard to avoid the storm. One ship with an engine failure has been safely towed. Quang Ngai has developed a plan to evacuate about 26,774 households to avoid the storm, 7,818 households to avoid floods, and 4,057 households to prevent landslides. Telecommunications units are required to check and assess the safety of stations, pillars, and equipment, and promptly relocate if unsafe, especially in densely populated areas.

From the Quang Ngai bridge, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep noted that with the forecasted storm wind level, houses without protective measures will have their roofs blown off. In addition, the area affected by the storm has solar power plants, which may suffer damage to infrastructure. The floodwaters will rise quickly and high, causing risks of separation and landslides, especially landslides in the three Central Highlands provinces: Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Dak Lak.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep also requested that localities direct people to reinforce their houses, trim trees, and move furniture to higher ground; prepare plans to evacuate people from dangerous areas; and instruct people to prepare power sources and backup batteries to ensure communication in case of power outages. Police and military forces proactively hide at areas at risk of landslides and isolation, ready to respond when needed. Regarding reservoirs, carry out safe water discharge according to procedures, especially in the basins of large rivers and hydroelectric reservoirs in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, etc.

With very little time left to prepare, concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested localities to update and develop response plans and scenarios based on forecasts and adjustments according to new data, starting from the morning of November 5.

For the sea and aquaculture areas, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that 100% of ships and rafts be banned from going out to sea. People must absolutely not be at sea after 5 p.m. on November 6. Police and Border Guard forces must ensure safety and control people's property.

The evacuation of people from dangerous areas must be completed before 7 p.m. on November 6 in coastal areas subject to high tides and mountainous areas with high, isolated, and landslide areas. Localities must work immediately with Military Regions 4 and 5 to determine forces, numbers, and means, "not waiting until the situation is isolated before sending in troops."

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to ensure communication, including satellite phones, at vulnerable points at risk of being cut off or isolated, and where power and communication infrastructure are not yet secure.

Regarding reservoirs, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to "take responsibility from now on", assess the safety of the reservoir, operate it, and reduce it to a safe water level to have flood control capacity on November 6-8, when there is a possibility of heavy rain of 200 to over 300 mm.

Localities must urgently assess the need for food, medicine, and chemicals for the people. The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance, the army, and the police to consider providing support now, not waiting for the situation to occur. Rescue vehicles must be mobilized from Military Region 4, Military Region 5, and local resources to be ready to respond to floods and move around flooded areas.

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to preside over and advise the Ministry of National Defense on arranging a location for the National Civil Defense Steering Committee to work and directly direct localities in the storm's eye area.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/pho-thu-tuong-tran-hong-ha-ung-pho-bao-so-13-trong-tinh-trang-khan-cap-hon-20251105110115228.htm