Typhoon Nesat to hit north this afternoon

>> Vietnam braces after storm lashes China

The Central Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center forecast tropical storm 5 -- as it is termed in Vietnam – to hit northern provinces from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh this afternoon.

Nesat hits Quang Ninh Early this morning, strong winds of up to 102 kph and high waves triggered by typhoon Nesat began to land in Co To Island district in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

The fierce winds ripped through the island and blew off the roofs of 32 houses and knocked down a telecom pole and many trees.

5 fishing boats were reportedly capsized and 3 others were blown off their anchors. A violent wind of up to 87kph also swept through Van Don Island district.

Chu Van Tuyen, head of Quang Ninh’s department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has arrived in Van Don to direct rescue efforts.

At 9am this morning, more than 4,900 people in Cat Hai Island district were evacuated to safe places and 1,000 tourists on Cat Ba Island were also informed to return to mainland.

The provincial Department of Transport has banned pedestrians and motorcyclists from traveling on Bai Chay Bridge in Ha Long city, arranging other means of transportation to get people across that bridge.

Early this morning strong winds and heavy rains were also reported in coastal districts in Nam Dinh like Giao Thuy, Hai Hau, and Nghia Hung.

Hundreds of policemen and troops have been piling sandbags and planting cajeput trees along the Hai Trieu sea dike in Hai Hau district, considered the most important in the province.

Dozens of fishing boats have sheltered near the dike.

The province party committee secretary, Pham Hong Ha, and people’s committee deputy chairman Bui Duc Long inspected it and put rescue teams on alert.

Following instructions from the National Flood and Storm Control Committee, the province administration ordered emergency evacuation of people living in vulnerable coastal areas.

In Nghia Hung District, more than 1,000 people have been evacuated.

Tran Van Cong, chairman of the Nghia Hung people’s committee, told Tuoi Tre that the evacuation had been completed by 11 pm on September 29, and troops are strengthening the Con Xanh Dike, which is believed to be vulnerable.

Rescue workers and residents also reinforced houses with sandbags to protect them from possible strong waves triggered by the typhoon.

Province deputy chairman Long said by this morning a total of 8,000 families around the province had been moved to safety, and everything was in readiness to cope with the storm.

Troops in Nam Dinh province are ready to cope with the typhoon Netsa

Dozens of fishing boats have sheltered near the Hai Trieu sea dike

Sandbags have been piled on house roofs

Sandbags and planting cajeput trees have been piled along the Hai Trieu sea dike