A powerful storm Vamco that had killed dozens of people in the Philippines hit Central Viet Nam on early Sunday morning, forcing Da Nang to take emergency response to the severe weather.

Traffic barriers have been placed on bridge approaches

Da Nang government urged the public to stay at home from 12am on Saturday until further notice issued 

As of 7.00pm on Saturday, a combined total of nearly 99,500 people living in areas at risk of flooding and landslides across Da Nang have been evacuated from their homes to safety in amid warnings of a 'life-threatening storm surge and hurricane force winds'.

Although Da Nang is not currently forecast to take a direct hit, national weather experts say the typhoon is still 'extremely dangerous' and even a glancing blow could bring torrential rain and destructive winds.

On Saturday evening, traffic barriers were placed on approaches to the Tran Thi Ly, Thuan Phuoc and Han River bridges, plus the 3-level Hue T-junction overpass, in a bid to ensure the safety of Da Nang public.

On Friday afternoon, armed and militia forces in Da Nang have actively engaged in assisting many local residents, especially those living in the coastal areas of Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts, in reinforcing their houses’ resistance and taking their valuable assets to safety prior to Vamco’s arrival.

A border guard helping residents placing sand bags onto their roofs so as to prevent winds from blowing them off

Likewise, many fishermen in Son Tra District urgently took their fishing gears ashore ahead of Vamco’s arrival.

As of Saturday morning, hundreds of fishing boats hailing from Da Nang and from other coastal localities nationwide have been safely anchored in the Tho Quang fishing wharf.

Border guards helping local fishermen bring their coracles to the mainland to avoid the impacts of typhoon Vamco

Son Tra District’s fishermen urgently anchoring their fishing boats in the Tho Quang fishing wharf ahead of Vamco's arrival

Da Nang International Airport, Quang Nam Province-based Chu Lai Airport and Thua Thien Hue-based Phu Bai Airport announced the closures from Saturday morning until 10am on Sunday because of the storm Vamco.

Dong Hoi and Vinh airports were closed until 8pm on Sunday following the bad weather situation.

In a similar vein, all intra-Da Nang bus services offering subsidised ticket fares, along with inter-provincial passenger coaches on fixed routes to and from Da Nang, are being temporarily suspended from Saturday until further notice.

By HOANG HIEP, VAN HOANG, XUAN DUNG, THANH LAN – Translated by M.D