At least six people were injured and hundreds of houses were destroyed as Typhoon Matmo barrelled across central and south central provinces from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa on Wednesday.

A local resident repairs his roof after the typhoon swept it away in the central province of Quang Ngai's Mo Duc District. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuoc Ngoc

Matmo, the fifth typhoon to make landfall from the East Sea this year, also uprooted thousands of trees.

Statistics from Quang Ngai Province on Thursday showed that four people were reported injured and nearly 450 houses were destroyed during the typhoon.

Data from the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh Province said the heavy weather had injured two, collapsed 144 houses and damaged a 2,000-metre stretch of sea defences. The initial damage was estimated at VNĐ400 billion (US$17.3 million), said Ho Quoc Dung, chairman of the committee.

In Phu Yen Province, initial statistics said the typhoon had caused a blackout in 72 communes, and only 11 had been reconnected so far.

In Quang Nam Province, inundation and landslides, triggered by the typhoon, isolated Nam Tra My District with nearby areas.

Weather warnings

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said the typhoon had weakened into a tropical low-pressure system yesterday morning. By 7am, the system had moved to the east of Cambodia with the highest wind speeds of 40km per hour.

The centre warned that although the typhoon was over, it could still cause torrential rainfall of 150-250mm in central provinces from Quang Trịito Quang Ngai until Friday.

Heavier rains of 200-300mm are forecast to continue hitting Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh between Friday and Saturday.

The centre also said water levels in the Tra Khuc, Ve, Kon, Ky Lo and DakBla rivers were rising quickly.

Mountainous areas in the provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Kon Tum and Gia Lai have been put on high alert for flash floods and landslides.

Floods are likely in low-lying and urban areas in the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.

Remedying the consequences

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, also head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, chaired an online meeting with the four most-affected provinces of Phu Yen, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa on Thursday morning.

Dũng said although the typhoon’s developments had been informed to relevant units, 70 fishing vessels had broken from their anchors and crashed into each other in Quy Nhon Port.

He ordered the province to learn from the incident and not ignore the threat of natural disasters.

Dũng also instructed relevant ministries and agencies to support the affected localities.

The localities were told to closely watch the developments of the storm’s circulation and evacuate residents living in areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides, he said.

The National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue is on standby to offer support in emergencies.

Authorities in the affected provinces have mobilised forces to help residents get back to life as normal. 

(Source: VNS)