Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon so far this year, is predicted to hit the northern mainland on Monday morning and bring heavy downpours and strong winds to 27 northern and northern central localities.–  Photo zing.vn

HÀ NỘI – Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon so far this year, is predicted to hit the northern mainland on Monday morning and bring heavy downpours and strong winds to 27 northern and northern central localities.

Speaking at the online conference on responding to Typhoon Mangkhut yesterday, Hoàng Đức Cường, director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHF), said "Mangkhut is the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, becoming the strongest storm of this year with sustained winds of 220km per hour".

At 1am on September 14, the storm’s eye was some 680km east-southeast of Luzon Island of the Philippines. The storm is forecast to move northwest at 20km per hour, heading to the East Sea and affecting the Tonkin Gulf in the next 48 hours.

It will hit the mainland on Monday, causing heavy downpours covering the northern and north central regions from Monday to Wednesday.

Cường said that apart from strong winds, rough seas and strong waves, the storm would bring heavy rainfall of 200-350mm to the north. Most reservoirs in the Red River delta and from the north down to the central province of Nghệ An are nearly full due to weeks of heavy rain.  

Flash floods are also predicted in Quảng Ninh, Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng and Thanh Hoá provinces following heavy downpours.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng asked localities to urge off-shore vessels to find shelter and guide other vessels to approach anchorage areas to ensure safety. The work must be finished before 10am on Sunday.

Dũng also asked localities to harvest aquaculture products early and organise the evacuation of people from aquaculture zones and low-lying areas before 5pm on Sunday.

Traffic on key sites such as bridges will be banned during the weekend. Special teams will be deployed to check flash flood-prone areas and notify and relocate people to safe places. Food, means of transport and communications must be well-prepared in case of emergency situation.

Dũng has urged the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to hold regular meetings to closely monitor the development of the storm and floods to promptly undertake response measures.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security have been asked to deploy forces and means of transport in the key areas to rescue affected people and ensure security and order. – VNS