It is expected that a total of about 500 people, 3 rescue ships, 40 fishing vessels and other means of rescue will participate in a large-scale anti-storm and flood exercise which is slated to take place in Da Nang next month.

Under the scenario for the exercise, a typhoon, packing the strongest wind speed of level 14 near its centre, was operating in the East Sea, and it was forecast to make landfall on a stretch from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang.

Under the influence of the storm and its circulation, rough seas and strong waves would occur along the coast these central provinces, and heavy rains would be seen dampening them. As a result, heavy flooding hit the upstream of many rivers in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Quang Ngai.

Following instructions from the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, search and rescue agencies in the provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Da Nang, took active measures to cope with the storm and flood, in a prompt yet effective manner.

In Da Nang alone, the municipal Border Guard High Command worked closely with functional bodies to conduct rescue missions at sea, arrange shelters from the storm for fishing vessels at the city-based Tho Quang fishing wharf, and join forces with other relevant units to rescue crew members of an already-capsized fishing boat

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh on Wednesday chaired a working session to discuss preparation for the forthcoming practice.

He emphasised that the upcoming drill is of great significance in helping regional localities assess their natural disaster mitigation capacity, hereby making additional adjustments so as to effectively cope with natural disasters and minimise the human and property losses.

He asked the participating units to build up specific drill plans suitable for real-life situations to ensure the success of the event.