PM Pham Minh Chinh orders emergency storm response as Wipha nears northern Vietnam

In a directive issued on Sunday evening, PM Chinh instructed ministries and localities from Ha Tinh Province northward to take swift, decisive action to respond to Wipha, the third tropical storm to enter the East Vietnam Sea this year.

The storm, forecast to start affecting northern and north-central provinces from Monday, is expected to bring powerful winds and intense rainfall, heightening the risk of flash floods, landslides in midland and mountainous areas, and inundation in low-lying and urban zones.

To minimize damage and protect lives and property, he asked all relevant agencies to urgently implement response plans.

Local authorities must focus on calling and guiding all vessels, including fishing boats, cargo ships, and tourist boats, out of danger zones or into safe shelters, and ensure safety at anchorages.

Officials are asked to review and enforce safety measures for coastal tourism and aquaculture activities.

Residents must be evacuated from boats and fish cages before the storm makes landfall.

Based on local conditions, authorities may impose bans on sea operations for fishing, cargo, and tourist vessels.

In coastal and inland areas, authorities must inspect residential zones and relocate people from unsafe homes and areas vulnerable to landslides, flash floods, or deep flooding.

He ordered that local emergency forces, equipment, and essential supplies be prepared.

The government leader also called for reinforcement of infrastructure, including factories, telecoms, and the national power grid, ensuring swift repairs and uninterrupted operation during and after the storm.

Traffic must be regulated and non-essential travel restricted during the storm landfall and pre-storm thunderstorms.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with monitoring, forecasting, providing accurate and timely updates to assist emergency response efforts.

Some ministries will coordinate storm response with localities, with the Ministry of National Defense in Quang Ninh Province, the Ministry of Public Security in Hai Phong City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Ninh Binh Province, the Ministry of Construction in Hung Yen Province, and the Ministry of Science and Technology in Thanh Hoa Province.

Wipha entered the northern Gulf of Tonkin on Monday morning, with its center located about 190 km from Quang Ninh and 310 km from Hai Phong, packing winds of up to 88 kph and gusts reaching 103 kph, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

As of 10:00 am on Monday, the storm had moved past the northern part of China’s Leizhou Peninsula, heading west-southwest at 10-15 kph.

Forecasters expect Wipha to make landfall between Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa on Tuesday, with peak intensity at levels 10-11 (89-117 kph), gusting to level 14 (150-166kph), before weakening into a tropical depression over Laos by Wednesday.