The direction of the typhoon Prapiroon.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Torrential rains, with rainfall of up to 300mm and thunderstorms are forecast to batter the northern region from Monday through to Wednesday due to the impacts of the typhoon Prapiroon.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting warned on Monday morning that the north-eastern part of the northern region was predicted to receive rainfall between 100-200 mm, with some areas exceeding 300 mm.

In other areas of the north-western region and Thanh Hóa Province, the rainfall was expected to range from 50-100 mm, with isolated areas receiving over 200 mm.

Additionally, the north and middle parts of the central region, the Central Highlands and the southern region would experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with isolated areas receiving heavy rainfall of 15-30 mm and some places over 70 mm (primarily in the afternoon and evening).

The heavy rains in the northern region and Thanh Hóa Province were expected to gradually decrease since Thursday.

On Sunday morning, the tropical low-pressure system over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Archipelago waters strengthened into a typhoon, becoming the second typhoon to hit the East Sea this year.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by 10 am on Monday, the eye of the storm was about 150 km southeast of Bạch Long Vĩ.

The strongest wind speeds near the storm's centre were 75-102 km per hour, and the typhoon moved northwest at a speed of 10-15 km per hour.

Preparedness

To proactively respond to the typhoon, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang signed Directive No. 70/CĐ-TTg on Sunday, calling for concentrated efforts to respond to the typhoon and flooding.

The directive requires ministers and provincial and city chairpersons to continue directing and promptly implementing effective measures to respond to typhoons and floods, ensuring the safety of lives and minimising property damage for residents.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was tasked to closely monitor the typhoon and flooding developments, providing timely forecasts and information to relevant authorities and the public for proactive response efforts.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, were assigned to coordinate with localities to direct the regulation of reservoirs, ensuring scientific and absolutely safe operation of irrigation and hydroelectric dams, preventing artificial floods and contributing to flood reduction for downstream areas.

They had to take safety measures for fisheries, agricultural production and industrial activities and ensure the safety of the power system.

The Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security were told to order relevant units to closely coordinate with localities, proactively deploying forces and means to support the evacuation and relocation of residents from dangerous areas, organise rescue and relief efforts and address the aftermath when requested by local authorities.

Sea ban

In Quảng Ninh Province, the Agriculture and Rural Development Department on Monday morning issued Document No. 4086/SNNPTNT-TL, requesting relevant agencies to suspend permits for vessels to go offshore, temporarily suspending permits for tourist vessels and overnight stays at sea tourist destinations starting from noon on Monday.

Vessels were still allowed to return from islands to the mainland for shelter, finishing by 4 pm on Monday.

The Provincial Military Command, Border Guard Command and Provincial Police were told to be ready to support localities and units for rescue activities.

The provincial Department of Tourism must closely monitor the number of tourists, especially in coastal tourist areas , and inform tourism enterprises of the typhoon situation to proactively arrange guest reception.

The provincial administration also requested the Việt Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and Đông Bắc Corporation to review disaster prevention plans for underground mining areas, waste dumps and flood-prone or landslide-prone areas during heavy rains and prepare rescue and relief operations when necessary.

Nam Định Province enforced a suspension of all sea activities starting from 10 am on Monday. The suspension will remain in effect until the final update on the typhoon is issued.

Thái Bình Province also banned boats from going out to sea, mining and fishing and other activities in estuary, coastal and offshore areas from 9 am on Monday.— VNS