Viet Nam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging authorities in coastal parts from Quang Ninh to Ca Mau, including Da Nang, to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to strong winds at sea, and bitter cold weather during Tet holiday.

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Tuesday into next Thursday, January 26, freezing temperatures are expected to strike the northern region and North Central Coast, according to Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. The national weather service has issued an extreme cold weather alert for these areas as temperatures are expected to dip 9 to 12 degrees Celsius, and 6 to 9 degrees Celsius in their mountainous areas. Frigid temperatures can be expected in high mountains where can be as cold as below 3 degrees Celsius in some places.

Tuesday into Wednesday, January 18, the Gulf of Tonkin, along with the Northern part, the middle and Western part of Southern East Sea, the open waters off the Quang Tri - Ca Mau coast, including Da Nang, could witness strong cold northeasterly wind at levels 6- 7, and the gusts reaching levels 7 to 8.

Authorities in the northern region and North Central Coast are asked to take appropriate measures to prepare for severe cold weather. Residents should be recommended taking actions to help protect against severe cold and freezing temperatures as exposure to extreme cold can be dangerous to people's health. People are urged to keep warm, eat well and stay active. Those who need to take extra care include older adults and kids along with those living with a long term condition such as heart disease. People, especially those living in mountainous areas, are recommended to use caution and limit outdoor exposure under cold conditions. In addition, they should not sleep with burning coal in closed room.

The authorities in affected areas are urged to help local residents protect their farm animal health and their agricultural production crops during severe cold weather. Heed must be paid to alerting local residents and tourists against icy and slippery roads to ensure their safety during cold weather conditions.

The authorities in coastal parts from Quang Ninh to Ca Mau, including Da Nang, must 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. Importance must be attached to making the resources available in order to organize timely rescue of any person in distress at sea and provide timely support for those who need it during severe weather.

In addition, heed must be paid on assisting local residents to prepare for severe weather in an attempt to keep them safe and protect their properties.

Reporting by TTXVN- Translating by H.L