Tropical storm Mekkhala threatens floods, landslides
02-OCT-2008 Intellasia | Thanhniennews
Oct 2, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
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A strengthening tropical storm is threatening flashfloods and landslides in central provinces, as well as flood tides in HCM City.
The Southern Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre expects heavy rains to begin today and flood tides to reach 1.37 metres in HCM City's District 2 on Thursday.
The centre forecast the flood tides to appear early in the morning and late afternoon at certain areas of districts 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, Go Vap, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc, adding the flooding would be more severe if the flood tides coincided with heavy rain.
HCM City is expected to experience heavy rains in the coming days from tropical storm Mekkhala, now in the East Sea.
The flood tides are expected to remain high over the next couple of days before abating.
The HCM City Steering Committee for Flood Control and Prevention Monday instructed district authorities to inspect low-lying areas to minimise flooding.
Mekkhala, which strengthened into a storm from a low pressure system Monday morning, is moving northwest by west at 10-15 kilometres per hour.
The storm is expected to be 170 kilometres off the coast of Ha Tinh and Quang Tri Provinces at 1 p.m. today. It is expected to reach central provinces within the next 24 to 48 hours. It is forecast to weaken into a low pressure system and move toward Laos on Thursday.
The Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre warned of heavy rains in northern and north-central provinces from this afternoon, followed by flashfloods and landslides in many areas.
The sea from southern Tonkin Gulf to Ca Mau Province is expected to be rough and local authorities in central provinces have issued warnings to fishing boats and launched missions to rescue stricken vessels. Mekkhala will be the seventh storm to reach the East Sea this year.
Da Nang City's Border Guards Monday said a rescue ship was approaching two broken down ships with 51 fishermen onboard.
A Singaporean cargo vessel also reported to Da Nang Marine Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) they had lost two barges at sea before safely reaching Dung Quat Port in Quang Ngai Province Monday.
An MRCC in Hong Kong Monday also informed Da Nang MRCC, identified as M/V Yinson Power 2 with unknown nationality, had sunk in the East Sea.
In Quang Ngai Province, local authorities said they had failed to communicate with three fishing boats from Ly Son Island, identified as carrying 41 fishermen.
Monday, deputy prime ministers Hoang Trung Hai and Nguyen Thien Nhan worked with the Central Committee of Flood Control and Prevention and eight provinces in northern and central regions to send more relief to areas affected by last week's storm Hagupit and to prepare for storm Mekkhala.
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