Responding to Storm No. 13: Coordinate forces at the highest level of readiness

On the afternoon of November 5, provinces and cities in the Central region affected by storm No. 13 are urgently racing against time to call on ships to take shelter in safe places, deploy plans to evacuate people, ensure communication plans, stockpile food and provisions with the motto "4 on-site", ready to effectively handle situations when the storm makes landfall, which is forecasted from the evening of November 6.

Quy Nhon Port Border Guard supports people in securing their houses. Photo: Dinh Quan/VNA

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Gia Lai is forecast to be the place where the eye of storm No. 13 will directly affect, the local government and people are urgently deploying response plans. According to the Gia Lai Provincial Civil Defense Command, on November 5, the locality is focusing on evacuating thousands of households in the landslide area to safe places, and it is expected that by 12 o'clock on November 6, the evacuation of 36,368 households will be completed as planned. Gia Lai province also deployed shortwave radio at 6 regional Civil Defense Commands, 2 infantry regiments, Border Guard Command, 4 mobile readiness teams in all directions and 11 district-level military command points (formerly Binh Dinh province).

Gia Lai Provincial Military Command has prepared 1,000 meals and drinks (instant noodles, bottled water...) to ensure food for people in isolated areas; at the same time, fully distributed equipment and necessities to mobile forces carrying out tasks in all directions.

On the afternoon of November 5, Lieutenant General Le Ngoc Hai, Commander of Military Region 5, inspected the response to storm No. 13 in Gia Lai province. Accordingly, more than 4,300 officers and soldiers from units of the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 5 in the province, along with nearly 300 vehicles of all kinds, were mobilized and ready to move in case of any situation. The Gia Lai Provincial Military Command has established 3 temporary command posts and 5 mobile teams ready to participate in search, rescue and relief missions in all directions; at the same time, ensuring full logistics, technical work, food reserves, and food to ensure 7 days of food for the forces participating in responding to and overcoming the consequences of the storm.

Lieutenant General Le Ngoc Hai requested agencies and units to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the telegrams of the Government, the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 5; closely maintain the information system and on-duty regime at all levels. At the same time, closely monitor the storm's developments, effectively implement the "4 on-site" motto, closely coordinate with functional forces, and be ready to effectively handle situations when the storm makes landfall.

Tra Cau ward militia helps people reinforce their houses. Photo: Dinh Huong/VNA

Quang Ngai province is also predicted to be the landing direction of storm No. 13. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province requested departments, branches, units and local authorities to immediately deploy measures to prevent, avoid and respond to storms and post-storm floods with the motto "proactive from early, from afar", with the most determined spirit, anticipating the worst scenario, deploying measures to prevent, avoid and respond at the highest level to absolutely ensure the safety of people's lives, limit property damage, and not be passive or surprised in any situation. Quang Ngai province prohibits all types of boats from operating at sea, including passenger transport vehicles on the Sa Ky - Ly Son route, the Dao Lon - Dao Be route and vice versa from 7:00 p.m. on November 5 until the weather stabilizes.

Up to now, Quang Ngai province has more than 6,000 fishing boats that have been called to anchor to avoid the storm, including nearly 1,000 boats and 20 aquaculture cages currently anchored at fishing ports and the Anchorage and Shelter Area for fishing boats in My A, Tinh Hoa, Ly Son; Sa Huynh and Tinh Ky fishing ports.

On November 5, inspecting the preparations for storm No. 13 in Quang Ngai province, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that this is a big storm, moving fast, with a wide area of ​​influence. Quang Ngai province needs to evacuate people in coastal areas and all people living in houses with corrugated iron roofs because level 4 winds can blow away all corrugated iron roofs to ensure human lives.

Ready to respond at the highest level

Storm No. 13 has a level 4 natural disaster risk; in which, it is also forecast to directly affect Dak Lak province. The locality is also urgently deploying emergency response measures, especially in coastal areas. To respond to storm No. 13, the Military Region 5 Command has established a Command Center for natural disaster prevention, search and rescue in Dak Lak. The Command Center is directly commanded by Major General Nguyen Quoc Huong, Deputy Commander of Military Region 5, with the task of directing and commanding the armed forces in the area; coordinating with local Party committees and authorities to deploy measures to respond to natural disasters and search and rescue, overcome consequences; minimize damage to people and property of the State, Army and People.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, storm No. 13 is forecast to make landfall, focusing on the Quy Nhon area (Gia Lai) and the southern part of Quang Ngai province. When reaching the shore, the wind may gust to level 13-14, with the risk of roofs being blown off and houses collapsing. The coastal terrain of Quy Nhon is bare, with strong direct winds, so the danger level is high. The storm's circulation causes widespread rain, notably in the Gia Lai, Dak Lak areas and the mountainous areas of Quang Ngai and Da Nang, which are at risk of landslides and isolation. A peak flood may appear on the morning of November 8, rising and falling quickly, posing great risks. Many hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs in the basin are still full and need to be released early to avoid flooding.

Storm No. 13 is forecast to affect the central coastal provinces and cities from 7 p.m. on November 6 to about 4 a.m. on November 7, so the remaining preparation time is very urgent. Currently, local authorities in provinces from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa are stepping up propaganda work to help people grasp the danger level of the storm and response measures.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes, wards and special zones to urgently and focused on implementing storm response plans, paying attention to key tasks such as closely monitoring the developments of storm No. 13, using all available media (local broadcasting systems, mobile loudspeakers, hand-held loudspeakers, etc.) to broadcast storm forecasts and warnings, instructing people to evacuate, evacuate, and reinforce their houses in the "go to every alley, knock on every door" method, ensuring that all people regularly grasp information, proactively prevent and fight storms; mobilize and propagate people to promote the spirit of mutual love, mutual support in the community.

In addition, develop detailed scenarios to respond to situations of strong storms and floods after storms (Eastern communes and wards and Ly Son special zone develop scenarios to respond to situations: strong storms (level 12-13); Western communes and wards develop scenarios to respond to situations of strong winds, floods and landslides in the commune; note that it is necessary to have a plan ready and organize evacuation and relocation of people to safe storm shelters; resolutely relocate and evacuate households with weak, simple houses that do not ensure safety (including houses with corrugated iron or tile roofs that do not have safe storm shelters). In case of non-cooperation, enforcement will be carried out if necessary; organize inspections of houses, headquarters, etc. to ensure safety before evacuating people; instruct people to reinforce their houses.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, this storm could cause heavy rains in the Central region, including localities that have just suffered heavy damage due to floods. The Civil Defense Command of the provinces and cities of Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, and Dak Lak has directed the operation of inter-reservoirs in the basins of the Huong River, Vu Gia - Thu Bon River, Tra Khuc River, and Ba River to operate discharge flows to reserve capacity to be ready to reduce floods for downstream areas. Irrigation reservoirs in the North Central region have stored at 87% - 100% of their design capacity. Irrigation reservoirs in the South Central and Central Highlands regions have stored at 66% - 99% of their design capacity.

Previously, in the announcement of the Politburo's Conclusion on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 12 and the rain and floods after the storm (Announcement No. 98-TB/TW) dated October 31, 2025, it was emphasized that the Politburo and the Secretariat share the losses and damages of the Party Committees, authorities and people of the localities affected by storm No. 12 and the rain and floods; at the same time, they acknowledge and commend the efforts of Party committees, Party organizations, local authorities and military forces, police, health, youth volunteers, rescue, the Fatherland Front and unions, social organizations, businesses and people in preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters caused by storms and floods. The leaders of the Party, State and Government have promptly grasped the situation, directed disaster response solutions and are regularly present in localities that have suffered heavy damage.

At the same time, it is requested that agencies, units, Party committees and local authorities urgently direct the timely overcoming of consequences caused by rain and floods, especially the work of supporting people in areas that are still heavily flooded, mountainous areas isolated by landslides; promptly stabilize the situation, restore essential civil works so that people can return to normal life; ensure safe temporary accommodation, clean water, food, medicine, special care for the elderly, children, pregnant women and vulnerable groups; ensure hygiene and safety conditions in schools and classrooms so that students can return to school soon to continue studying right after the flood recedes.

Authorities have organized a review and assessment of recent work on forecasting and preventing natural disasters, and proposed fundamental plans to prevent storms and floods and response scenarios for natural disasters that may occur in the near future.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/ung-pho-bao-so-13-hiep-dong-luc-luong-san-sang-o-muc-cao-nhat-20251105194439463.htm