Typhoon Mun, the second arising in the East Sea so far this year, made landfall in localities from Hai Phong to Nam Dinh in early July 4, with a wind speed of 62-88 km/h.
At 5:00am of July 4, the eye of the storm was about 20.6 degrees North latitude and 106.5 degrees East longitude in the mainland from Hai Phong city to Nam Dinh province.
In the next 24 hours, the storm is forecast to move towards west-northwest direction with speed of 15km per hour, approaching northeastern localities before weakening into a low pressure affecting the northern mountainous and midland areas.
Strong winds have been recorded in the Tonkin Gulf covering Bach Long Vi, Co To, Cat Hai and Van Don island districts since early July 4. Seas there were very rough.
Natural disaster alert at level three was made in the mainland of localities from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa.
The typhoon causes torrential rain in Nghe An’s northwestern areas in the whole July 4, which is expected to reduce from the night on the same day.
Heavy rains are also forecast in the northern mountainous localities and Hanoi.
Quang Ninh evacuates tourists from islands ahead of Typhoon Mun’s arrival.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has evacuated around 4,000 tourists from outlying islands before the forecast arrival of Typhoon Mun on July 4.
The move had been taken before a ban of vessels sailing to sea was issued at noon on July 3.
Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Co To island district Tran Nhu Long said however, up to 1,640 tourists, including four foreigners, wanted to stay on the island to get an experience of a storm at sea.
Long added that the local authorities have taken necessary measures to ensure the tourists’ safety and daily needs.
In Quan Lan-Minh Chau islands in the Van Don island district, another 148 tourists also insisted to stay on the island.
During the storm seasons in 2015 and 2017, thousands of tourists were stuck on outlying islands in Quang Ninh for days, even weeks, due to storms. In July 2015, the provincial authorities had to enlist the help of the navy to take the tourists onto land.
Quang Ninh is a popular destination for sea and island tourism. It has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and is home to popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, Ha Long Bay National Park and islands such as Co To, Quan Lan and Van Don.
The province welcomed 12.3 million visitors, including 5.2 million foreigners, last year.
As of 4pm on July 3, the typhoon Mun was about 210 km east-south east of the coast from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa province. The typhoon has maximum wind intensity of 60-75km per hour at its centre, with gusts reaching 103-117km per hour.
Mun is moving west-north west at a speed of 10-15km per hour and is likely to gain strength.
Airlines adjust flight schedules due to storm
Vietnam Airlines and Jestar Pacific have announced their schedule changes for flights to and from the Cat Bi airport in the northern port city of Hai Phong on July 3 over impact of Typhoon Mun.
Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will cancel two flights coded VN1192 and VN1193 between Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, while Jestar Pacific’s flights coded BL594 and BL595 connecting the two destinations will land and depart at Hanoi’s Noi Bai international airport instead of Cat Bi.
Affected passengers will be assisted following regulations. If requested, they will be transferred to available seats on other flights free of charge.
The two carriers recommended their passengers, who plan to travel to or from airports in typhoon-hit destinations, including Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, frequently update weather forecast and related flight information.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Typhoon Mun was about 130km south-southeast off Quang Ninh and Nam Dinh provinces as of 13:00 of July 3.
In the next 24 hours, the storm is forecast to move west-northwest at a speed of about 10-15km per hour.
Northern region braces for typhoon Mun
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, who is chairman of the national steering committee for natural disaster control, has sent a public dispatch to 28 northern and north-central provinces and centrally-run cities as well as relevant agencies urging them to get ready for the upcoming typhoon Mun.
The typhoon is moving towards the northern coastline and is forecast to land in the northern coastal region on early July 4, bringing torrential rains and strong wind to the northern and north-central regions.
The dispatch emphasized the high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.
The central steering committee for natural disaster control required ministries, sectors and local authorities to closely follow the movement of the typhoon and take action to reduce damage caused by the typhoon.
Preventive measures include informing vessels at sea on the typhoon and guiding them to safe shelters, evacuating residents in areas vulnerable to floods, landslides, shoring up dykes and reservoirs, and preparing personnel and materials for timely response in emergencies.
In Hai Phong city, more than 2,530 vessels had been informed about the typhoon as of 10 am on July 3.
Ninh Binh province urgently evacuated residents from areas outside the sea dyke and low-lying areas before 6pm the same day.
Quang Ninh province has banned all vessels from going to sea, while Thai Binh province ordered the evacuation of all workers at sea aquaculture farms and residents in river banks and coastal areas.
As of 4pm on July 3, the typhoon Mun was about 210 km east-south east of the coast from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa province. The typhoon has maximum wind intensity of 60-75km per hour at its centre, with gusts reaching 103-117km per hour.
Mun is moving west-north west at a speed of 10-15km per hour and is likely to gain strength.
Many airlines have to cancel or re-direct flights to and from Hai Phong city.
Vietnam Airlines will cancel two flights coded VN1192 and VN1193 between Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, while Jetstar Pacific’s flights coded BL594 and BL595 connecting the two destinations will land and depart at Hanoi’s Noi Bai international airport instead of Cat Bi.
Vietjet Air also cancelled flight VJ732 from Nha Trang to Hai Phong and VJ284 from Ho Chi Minh City to Hai Phong late July 3 due to the typhoon.
According to a report on VNA
