Soldiers help local residents in Phú Yên Province clear mud after high tides. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường

HÀ NỘI — Typhoon Rai, the ninth typhoon of this year, hit Bình Thuận Province on Sunday, killing at least one person, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The 38-year-old fisherman from Chí Công Commune, Tuy Phong District, was confirmed dead after his boat capsized on Sunday morning.

Rough seas also sank five fishing vessels and damaged three in the waters off Tuy Phong District.

The typhoon also damaged trees, solar panels and blew away some roofs on Song Tử Tây and Đá Nam islands as it hit Khánh Hòa Province.

More than 400 aquaculture cages in Cam Bình and Cam Lập communes were also damaged. 

Lê Minh Hải, head of Economic Division of Cam Ranh City, said local officials have not been able to calculate in detail the damage caused by the typhoon due to further high waves on Sunday evening.

Orchards and some areas on Trường Sa island district were damaged.

In the past 24 hours, Khánh Hòa province saw the lighter rainfall of about 10mm. 

In Phú Yên Province, hundreds of border soldiers were mobilised on Sunday night to help local residents in Tuy Hòa City as high waves combined with high tides caused deep flood in ward 6, affecting more than 100 households.

Nearly 200 soldiers arrived on scene to evacuate people and their property to safe places, said Lieutenant Colonel Trần Trung Thủy, deputy chief of staff, provincial Military Command.

Local residents said this was the most dangerous and biggest tides in recent years in Tuy Hòa City.

Yesterday, the City People's Committee mobilised other forces to urgently deal with the consequence of the tide.

Hundreds of people had sought emergency shelter as the tide flooded 100 houses, with the losses of about VNĐ645 million (over US$28,000). 

Rai Typhoon is expected to move north-northeast at around 20kph.

To actively cope with the typhoon, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control asked provinces from Quảng Ninh to Kiên Giang to continue to closely monitor forecasts and developments and guide ships to safe anchorage and adjust fishing plans as well as other activities on the sea, islands and rivers. 

Provinces and cities need to specifically assess the damage of dykes and sea embankments to have an emergency repair plan to ensure safety for affected areas. — VNS