Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Powerful typhoon Xangsane that struck Vietnam's central region has killed at least 16 people including four in Da Nang, two in Quang Nam, four in Binh Dinh, four in Nghe An and two in Quang Binh and injured hundreds of others.

Many sea dykes and power lines were damaged by the typhoon.

Typhoon Xangsane has also un-roofed or destroyed more than 8,000 houses, and caused severe damages to many transportation works, hydropower plants and farming areas, according to an earlier report by the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control.

Heavy rain and strong winds accompanying the typhoon, the 6th one that hit Vietnam so far this year, are making water levels in rivers in the central region swelling.

Earlier on October 1, the government held a meeting with the people's committee chairmen of Da Nang City, and provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai to discuss measures to overcome the aftermath of the typhoon.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, who chaired the meeting, instructed ministries, branches and localities to issue contingency plans to ensure that people in typhoon-hit areas would not fall into hunger, cold and homeless situation.

He also requested relevant agencies to restore hydrometeorology, telecom and electricity services as soon as possible.

The typhoon damaged thousands of houses and caused widespread flooding.

In Thua Thien-Hue province, Typhoon Xangsane, the 6th typhoon that hit Vietnam so far this year, has caused severe damages and widespread flood, injuring 30 people, un-roofing or demolishing 4,529 houses.

The province has made ready 300 tonnes of food, 30 tonnes of instant noodle and many other necessities for relief activities in typhoon-hit areas.

According to the Vietnam National Hydro-meteorology Centre , the epicentre of Typhoon Xangsane, which means "elephant" in the Lao language, was weakening by 4 pm on Oct. 1 as it was reaching the Laos-Thailand border area. It is expected that the typhoon will move west at 10-15 kph during the next 24 hours and further weakens.

Affected by the circulation of atmosphere caused by the typhoon, strong winds at up to 74 kph are blowing across coastal provinces from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and in northern Central Highlands.

The centre issued warning to provinces stretching from Thanh Hoa to Quang Nam and the northern Central Highland area, saying they should be prepared for torrential rains, flooding, landslides, thunderstorms and whirlwinds.

In Nghe An province, four people died of high water caused by heavy rain accompanied the typhoon when went fishing on rivers in Thanh Chuong district, prompting local authorities to warn people against reaching rivers and streams.

As of 2 p.m (local time) on October 1, the Da Nang General Hospital has given treatment to 130 injured people, most of them were struck by the failing down of walls and trees. The figure has been on the constant rise.

In the nearby Quang Ngai province, five people were injured, 882 houses were unroofed and 15 other houses were totally collapsed, 15 fishing boats were sunken, 918 hectares of farmland were damaged, and many transportation works and sea dykes were destroyed.

In another move, the steering committee and the National Committee for Search and Rescue have sent an urgent message to authorities in Da Nang City and in provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Kon Tum, requesting them to promptly evacuate those who are living in lowlands or in areas that are at risk of flash foods and landslides to safe places.

The message asked authorities in those localities to make ready forces and equipment for possible rescue operations.

Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper