After Typhoon No. 8 hit Central Vietnam last week and caused massive rainfall and flooding, another tropical storm known as Molave is rapidly heading towards the Southeast Sea from the Philippines.
It is estimated that the storm will hit Da Nang and Phu Yen Province on 28th October.
Given that Molave has caused widespread downpours and infrastructure damage across the Philippines last week, the Vietnamese government has ordered residents in the storm’s track to evacuate their homes right away.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the urgent briefing regarding disaster monitoring efforts
Image credit: Thanh Nien
According to the National Center For Hydro – Meterological Forecasting, tropical storm Molave, dubbed Typhoon No. 9, will strike the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh in about 24 hours’ time.
To avoid the dangers of flash floods and landslides, about 1.2 million residents in 7 Central Vietnam provinces have been evacuated to safer places.
When the storm strikes, its winds will be 115-150KM/H strong. The storm is expected to unload at least 200-400mm of rain in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, and at least 500-700mm of rain south of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri.
A volunteer group steering a boat on Ngan Mo River
Image adapted from: Splendora Nguyễn
With a stack of storms hitting Central Vietnam back to back and causing sustained rainfall, a large part of the region has seen extensive flooding for weeks.
Image adapted from: Tuoi Tre
While it’s impossible to use motorbikes or cars to go to safer shelters, it’s also not feasible to walk through rapidly surging waters that can knock you off your feet and easily drown you. Many families, especially those with elderly people, couldn’t evacuate quickly enough and are now stranded at the highest possible points they could reach in their own homes, while waiting for rescue teams.
Image adapted from: Tuoi Tre
Due to the limited number of boats, canoes, and kayaks, which are the only means of transportation to navigate the flooded waterways, rescuers have encountered lots of obstacles.
Many volunteer groups of ordinary people, especially private boat owners and expert swimmers, have joined local soldiers in the search and rescue efforts in the flooded areas.
Image adapted from: Tuoi Tre
These good Samaritans will sail to every household to transport groceries and help evacuate people to safer places amid the alarming rise in water levels.
Amid the ongoing storms in Central Vietnam and incessant flooding, charity groups across the country are raising funds to purchase more boats, life jackets, groceries, and warm clothes to donate to the rescue efforts.
Even though natural disasters have taken a toll on many Central Vietnamese residents’ lives and ravaged countless properties, there are still many people coming together to support one another through this unprecedented time.
From sharing meals and clothes to bravely weathering the storms to rescue stranded neighbors, we’re seeing heart-warming stories about Vietnamese people watching out for each other and saving each other from the high waters.
For those living in the danger zones, keep yourself posted with updates of the typhoon and flooding statuses and strictly follow local officials’ safety advice.
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Cover image adapted from: Accuweather and Tuoi Tre
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