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Vietnam’s central provinces from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa are planning to evacuate more than 28,000 residents prior to the landfall of tropical storm Goni, which is expected to bring heavy rains across the region. |
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Despite being forecast to weaken to a tropical depression as it moves towards the Vietnamese coast, Goni remains a threat to a region already devastated by serious rains and flooding throughout October. According to a report from the national disaster management agency, over 8,000 people have been moved out of danger areas near the coast or areas highly susceptible to landslide. Phu Yen Province is expected to have the largest number of evacuees at more than 12,000. The authorities informed nearly 50,000 vessels at sea of the tropical storm and to navigate away from its impact zone while fish farmers were told to reinforce fish farms near the coast. The national weather agency has forecast that heavy rains of up to 300 millimetres will pummel the region over the coming days, resulting in rising water levels in rivers across central Vietnam. The agency already issued a warning of flash floods and landslides for a swathe from Thua Thien Hue Province and Phu Yen Province as well as the Central Highlands, which Goni is expected to move through as it weakens after making landfall. As of 1pm on November 3, the storm is about 210 kilometres east of the Vietnamese coast, packing sustained winds of 60-75 kilometres per hour. Rain of varying amounts between 30-40 millimetres and above has started coming down in provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai over the past six hours and more rainfall is expected in the due course. The department of crops at the agriculture ministry is urging provinces in the south central region, where Goni is expected to make landfall, to quickly harvest their ripe rice areas, estimated at more than 40,000 hectares. Rescue and search personnel have also been asked to stand ready for any missions during and after the arrival of the storm. Vietnam has remained on high alert with the central region still reeling from severe rains, floods and storms over the past month, which have caused significant losses to both human life and property. Source: Nhan Dan Online |