Hanoi (VNA) – By 3pm on July 25, tropical storm Sonca, the fourth developed
in the East Sea and third to hit Vietnam this year, made landfall in the
northern areas of the central provinces of Quang Tri and weakened into a
tropical low pressure, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorology
Forecasting.
The
central province of Quang Tri has evacuated 1,296 households in coastal and
island districts to safer places.
The
3,983 residents evacuated are from Gio Linh, Vinh Linh, Trieu Phong, Hai Lang
and Con Co districts and Dong Ha town.
Quang
Tri has also called on 2,364 vessels with nearly 7,400 people on board to
anchor at wharfs and avoid dangerous zones.
The provincial People’s Committee has issued an urgent notice on storm
preparedness, asking for attention to ensuring safety for vessels at wharfs and
supervising reservoirs in localities.
Under
the notice, unnecessary meetings will be cancelled and officials are required
to focus on directing efforts against the storm.
Quang
Tri is suffering torrential rains with rainfall measuring in such areas as
Thach Han, Cua Viet and Dong Ha ranging from 126mm to 171mm.
In
the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, 29,350 houses in coastal and
mountainous areas of Phu Vang, Phu Loc, Phong Dien, Quang Dien, A Luoi and Nam
Dong districts are also expected to be evacuated soon.
The
localities are requested to work round the clock in case of unexpected
incidents at night.
Local
competent agencies have checked the safety of reservoirs, high voltage
stations, antennas, base transceiver stations (BTS), advertising boards and
trees.
The
storm is forecast to affect more than 25,570 ha of rice of the summer-autumn
crop, which are flowering, in the province.
The
Thanh Hoa steering board for natural disaster prevention, search and rescue has
asked localities to stay ready with measures to guarantee the safety of dykes,
lakes, and facilities under construction, especially at 121 downgraded lakes
and dams.
By
3pm on July 25, all off-shore vessels in Thanh Hoa reached shore safely.-VNA