Vietnam military deploys over 267,000 troops, helicopters, vehicles in preparation for storm Koto

According to the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army has issued an urgent nationwide order directing Military Regions 4, 5, and 7, along with the Air Defense-Air Force and Navy, the Border Guard Command, the Vietnam Coast Guard, and key army units, to maintain full combat readiness and disaster-response status.

The armed forces are maintaining 267,335 personnel, including 67,175 regular soldiers and 200,160 militia members, supported by 6,684 vehicles and vessels.

These include 3,720 trucks, 520 specialized vehicles, 646 ships, 1,239 boats and speedboats, and six Mi-553 helicopters, all ready for rapid rescue and relief operations.

Authorities have also completed a large-scale vessel tracking campaign.

The coastal areas from Da Nang City to Ca Mau Province have contacted and guided 49,225 boats carrying 272,098 fishermen on the storm’s trajectory to help them avoid dangerous waters. 

Currently, no vessels remain inside the high-risk zone.

In Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Special Zone, naval forces from Brigade 146 and Naval Region 4 have urgently reinforced storm defenses and assisted fishermen seeking shelter.

By 4:00 pm on Wednesday, more than 200 fishing boats with over 2,000 fishermen had safely anchored at islands including Truong Sa, Da Tay, Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Nam Yet, and Sinh Ton.

Over 400 officers and soldiers were mobilized to help anchor vessels and reinforce homes.

The islands also supplied more than 10,000 liters of fresh water, food, medicine, and temporary shelter for fishermen.

All island residents and docked vessels are reported safe, with military units maintaining 24-hour readiness as the storm approaches.

While preparing for storm Koto, the military is also continuing large-scale flood recovery operations in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong Provinces.

On Wednesday alone, more than 34,800 troops and 1,080 vehicles were deployed to help clean and restore 87 homes, 131 schools, 31 health stations, and 80 public buildings, along nearly 247km of roads.

Relief forces also delivered 10 metric tons of food and essential supplies, distributed 13,000 sets of clothing, 12,400 mosquito nets, disinfected nearly 2,200 homes, and restored electricity, water, and telecommunications services in heavily damaged areas.

Storm Koto entered the East Vietnam Sea on Tuesday night as the year’s 15th in the region.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the center of Koto was located about 190km north of Song Tu Tay Island at 10:00 am on Thursday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds near its center reached 118-133 kph, with gusts of 167-183 kph.