Localities brace for storm Bebinca

Bebinca is moving west-southwest at a speed of 15km per hour, and expected to be 270-350km offshore the coast from Quang Ninh to Nghe An as of 7am on August 16. 

It has wind at 60-90 km per hour near the centre with stronger gust. 

As from August 16 morning, there will be strong wind and rough sea in the eastern area of the Tonkin Gulf. 

In the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to be right on the coast from Hai Phong to Nghe An, and then weaken into a low pressure. 

Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the storm will bring torrential rains in northern and north central regions from the night of August 15 to August 17.

He said the rainfalls may reach 300-400mm, even 500-600mm in some areas in northern localities and Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Hai Phong authorities have deployed forces around the clock at important sites and vulnerable areas to timely deal with any emergency. A total of nearly 42,500 people have been mobilized to get ready for dyke protection and search and rescue activities. 

By mid-day August 15, Hai Phong had issued storm warning to more than 2,830 vessels with nearly 9,200 fishermen and more than 1,500 labourers at sea-based aquaculture farms. 

Though still a distance away, Bebinca has caused heavy rains in Nam Dinh province on August 15. Local authorities are urging residents to shore up their houses while making preparations to evacuate residents in lowland and coastal areas. 

Nam Dinh was also hit by storm Son Tinh in late July, which brought prolonged big rains submerging 20,000 ha out of the total 76,500 ha of rice in the province.