QUẢNG NGÃI — Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà on Thursday morning chaired an urgent meeting to direct emergency measures in response to Storm No.13, which is forecast to be one of the strongest storms to hit central Việt Nam this year.
Attending the meeting at the Quảng Ngãi provincial hub were Nguyễn Xuân Sang, Deputy Minister of Construction, Senior Lieutenant General Phạm Trường Sơn — Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Việt Nam People’s Army, Nguyễn Hoàng Giang, Chairman of the Quang Ngai People’s Committee, and provincial leaders of relevant departments and agencies.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 10 a.m. on November 6, the storm’s centre was located near 13.1 degrees North latitude and 111.6 degrees East longitude, about 270km east-southeast of Quy Nhơn, with maximum wind speeds of 167–183 km/h (level 15) and gusts exceeding level 17. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 30 km/h.
Strong winds have already been recorded in several coastal areas of Quảng Ngãi Province — including Lý Sơn Island, Dung Quất, and Phù Cát — reaching levels 6 to 10 on the Beaufort scale.
The storm is expected to make landfall between Quảng Ngãi and Đắk Lắk by 10 p.m., weakening slightly but still posing disaster risk level 4 for the central region.
At the meeting, Chairman Nguyễn Hoàng Giang reported that all 170 fishing vessels with over 2,400 crew members operating at sea had received full storm updates and moved out of dangerous zones.
More than 30,000 households (over 103,000 people) are expected to be evacuated, with priority given to community shelters, schools, and government buildings.
The province has also issued urgent directives, set up eight inspection teams and four forward command posts, and ordered a ban on all vessels going to sea since 7 p.m. on November 5.
Deputy Minister Nguyễn Xuân Sang also briefed the meeting on the Star Bueno incident — a Liberian-flagged vessel (178,978 DWT) carrying over 174,000 tonnes of iron ore that ran aground near Dung Quất due to rough seas and strong winds.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà stressed that Storm No.13 is extremely strong, moving rapidly, and will bring intense rainfall to central provinces — many of which have already suffered from severe flooding in recent weeks.
He urged all affected localities to remain on high alert, avoid complacency, and base all emergency operations on updated, accurate forecasts.
The Deputy PM instructed provinces from southern Quảng Ngãi to Gia Lai — forecast to be hardest hit — to develop detailed disaster-response scenarios, clearly defining critical timeframes and phases of response to ensure comprehensive preparedness.
He also warned of potential landslides and flash floods in mountainous areas and called for timely deployment of rescue forces if needed.
Localities were ordered to complete evacuations within the prescribed timeframe, ensure no residents remain in hazardous zones, and pay particular attention to aquaculture farms and offshore cages, reinforcing structures and strictly prohibiting people from staying at sea.
He further directed communication agencies and grassroots forces to intensify public information campaigns, ensuring every household receives clear and timely guidance.
Telecommunications, healthcare, and emergency services must maintain continuous operations and have 24-hour standby teams with essential medicines and supplies ready for deployment.
M.H
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
