A strong typhoon is expected to make landfall in the Philippines on Thursday afternoon. Typhoon Rai has the ferocity to become a super typhoon, according to international weather experts.

At 1:00pm on Sunday, December 19, Rai's center will be located about 200km east of Phu Yen - Khanh Hoa’s coast with maximum sustained winds at level 13, and and the gusts as high as level 16. Super typhoon Rai is expected to impact some Vietnamese coastal localities, including Da Nang, Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting in its latest bulletin said. 

Himawari-8 infrared image of Super Typhoon Rai

The Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue is urging authorities at local level and relevant agencies to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to cold weather and Super Typhoon Rai.

The Da Nang Border Guard Command and Da Nang Coastal Information Station will keep a close watch on severe weather development, and keep owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about severe weather conditions in order to help them take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelters during the bad weather.

All vessels are banned from going to sea, and are asked to find shelter in order to stay safe during severe weather.

The Da Nang Border Guard Command will keep a close watch on offshore and inshore vessels in a bid to organize timely rescue of any person in distress at sea during severe weather. The heed will be paid on ensuring the safety of all vessels docking at the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and other designated places to shelter from severe weather conditions with proper precautions against COVID-19 in place.

Police are tasked to prepare fire and explosion protection plans in a bid to reduce the risk of fires at the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and other places where vessels are docking to shelter from severe weather conditions.

Authorities at local level are asked to develop active planning for response to flash floods and landslides in their local areas, and prepare an effective evacuation plan for people living in low-lying areas, along rivers and streams and areas that are at high risk of flash floods and landslides in order to move them to safe places with proper precautions against COVID-19 in place. The special attention must be paid to preparing emergency evacuation for people living along Yen, Tuy Loan, and Cu De rivers in Hoa Tien, Hoa Khuong, Hoa Bac, Hoa Lien, Hoa Phu, Hoa Phong, Hoa Son communes, mountainous areas in Hoa Vang Rural District and Son Tra and Lien Chieu districts.

Authorities at local level must assist their residents to prepare for severe weather in an attempt to keep them safe.

Besides, the heed is paid on providing guidance and advice for construction sites to prepare for severe weather.

The health agency must provide guidance for infection prevention and control to ensure a safe environment for people in evacuation points with a focus on introducing protocol for dealing with suspected and confirmed cases in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – translating by H.L