Storm Vamco weakens to low pressure area, bringing in heavy rain and strong winds

Tropical storm Vamco - after moving deep into the territory of central Quang Nam and Quang Ngai province Monday evening - weakened to a low pressure area, said the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF). This is the third storm to hit the East Sea this year.

 

According to NCHMF, at 11pm September 14, the low pressure area was at about 15.5 degrees north and 107.9 degrees east on the territory of Quang Nam-Quang Ngai provinces with the strongest winds dropping to 40kph. Over the next 12 hours, the low pressure area will move west-southwest at a speed of 15kph and will further weaken.

 

Vessels safe at Tho Quang wharf in Da Nang city. (Image credit: NDO)

Heavy rain has hit the central region, particularly from Ha Tinh to Binh Dinh provinces. Total rainfall as of 7pm on Monday ranged from 150 to 250mm, with over 250mm in Ky Anh (Ha Tinh province), 266mm in Nam Dong (Hue), and Tien Sa (Quang Nam) with 312mm.

Heavy rain is also forecast to reach the Northern Delta and Central Highlands from September 15-18.

 

Commands of the Border Guard of provinces from Quang Binh to Ninh Thuan have informed and guided over 29,000 vessels with 124,747 employees on the location and movement of the storm as a preventive measure.

 

To ensure safety as the storm is approaching, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced cancellation of flights to and from Da Nang from 2 to 5pm today. Earlier, the airline cancelled four flights to and from Buon Ma Thuot city in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and two flights to and from the central province of Quang Nam.

 

Low-cost carrier VietJet Air cancelled flights to and from the central cities of Hue and Da Nang, and Chu Lai of Quang Nam province.

 

On September 14, Jetstar Pacific said the weather in Buon Ma Thuot was so bad that a flight travelling from the northern port city of Hai Phong to Buon Ma Thuot had to land at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Influenced by Vamco, since the night of September 13 widespread heavy rains have inundated many roads in Da Nang city with 10-30cm of water recorded.

 

Da Nang municipal People's Committee has ban sea operations and directed localities to deliver emergency storm notifications, while immediately deploying plans for the storm’s consequences and floods, and evacuating residents in low-lying and coastal areas.

 

Director of Da Nang Department of Education and Training sent urgent dispatches to local schools, letting students out of school on Monday afternoon.

 

In Quang Tri province, more than 2,280 ships with over 6,405 fishermen have been informed of the direction of the storm to seek safety.

 

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)