PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng orders prompt measures to prevent Typhoon UTOR

VNGOVNet – In the afternoon of December 10, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng worked with the members of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention (CFSP) on urgent measures to deal with Typhoon No. 10 (internationally known as UTOR).

December 11, 2006 8:27 AM GMT+7

Photo: VNGOVNet

At the meeting, after hearing the reports on UTOR made by the CFSP and the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF), PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng gave directions as follows:

1- To prohibit all ships and boats from going out to the sea for the time being; quickly call those in the open sea to safe shelters;

2- Chairpersons of the province/centrally-administered city People’s Committees from Bình Định to Quảng Trị must thoroughly direct the preventive work against UTOR;

3- The provinces from Bình Định to Quảng Trị promptly prepare plans to deal with the typhoon, including removing and evacuating people, and solidifying people’s accommodations;

4- The Ministry of Resources and Environment keeps close watch on the typhoon and closely collaborate with radio and television stations to provide in-time information about the developments of UTOR;

5- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall send diplomatic notes to neighboring countries, asking them to provide shelter to Vietnamese ships and fishermen running away from the typhoon;

6- The Ministry of Fisheries shall in collaboration with the Border Guard Command direct the provincial services of fisheries in helping protect ships and boats from UTOR;

7- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct the protection of water reservoirs;

8- The Ministry of National Defense and the Committee for Search and Rescue shall call all ships and boats in the open sea to safe shelters;

9- The Ministry of Transport shall direct the coastal broadcasters in collaboration with the NCHMF to inform fishermen about the typhoon;

10- To establish a Frontline Command Against Typhoon UTOR based in Đà Nẵng City and headed by Standing Deputy PM Nguyễn Sinh Hùng.

At 4.00 PM December 10, the typhoon’s eye was reported at latitude 12⁰7 N and longitude 119⁰8 E. The strongest wind force was measured at Scale 12 near the eye (from 118 to 149 km/h), gusting above Scale 13. From Utor’s eye, the radius of wind speeding from Scale 10 up is 150 km and from Scale 6 up, 300-350 km. It is forecast that over the next 24 to 48 hours, Utor will move westerly and northwest-westerly at the speed of 15km/h. By 4.00 PM December 12, its eye is forecast to be at latitude 14⁰0 N and longitude 113⁰7 E, about 360km southeast-south from the Hoàng Sa Archipelago. As the result of the typhoon’s impacts, the eastern area of the Eastern Sea will see strong wind at Scales 11-12 and Scales 13-14 near the typhoon’s eye, gusting above Scale 14. The sea will be turbulent, with sea wave 8-10m high. From midday December 11, the Eastern Sea’s center will experience strong wind at Scales 9-10 and later Scales 11-12, up to Scales 13-14 near the typhoon’s eye, gusting above Scale 14. Typhoon Utor might hit the mainland in the Wednesday evening (December 13) or Thursday morning (December 14).

By Xuân Hồng