Vietnam to evacuate more than 330,000 residents as typhoon Conson nears
Vietnam’s central coastal provinces have developed plans to evacuate a total of 331,392 residents from flood-prone areas before typhoon Conson makes landfall on September 12.
Quang Nam is expected to move 172,373 people to safer grounds, while its neighbours Quang Tri anf Thua Thien-Hue will evacuate 67,000 and 70,000 people respectively. Elsewhere, Da Nang and Quang Ngai will also evacuate more than 80,000 people.
The information was unveiled at an online meeting on September 11 between the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and relevant ministries, sectors and coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai.
Mai Van Khiem, deputy director of the national Centre of Hydro Meteorological Forecasting, reported Conson would be downgraded before it pounds central coastal localities on September 12.
At 01.pm on September 10, the typhoon was churning around the waters about 140km off the central coast with winds gusting 90kph. In the next 24 hours, Conson will move west at a speed of 5-7kph and head toward the mainland from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai.
Though Conson is yet to make landfall, strong winds and rainfall of 100-250mm were recorded from coastal localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Binh Dinh on September 10. The typhoon also caused sea surges of 4-5m high and winds gusting 75kph.
It is expected that Conson will bring heavy rain from now to September 13 to coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, with rainfall likely to climb as high as 200-300mm, or even over 350mm.
Weather forecasters warned about risks of flooding in 40 districts of provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, and risks of flash floods and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas of Quang Tri, Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Kon Tum provinces.
