Urgent response before G-hour: Storm No. 11 is approaching, many localities let students stay home from school, prohibit the sea, and release floodwaters from reservoirs

On the evening of October 5, when Hanoi was still hot, the meteorological agency warned that exceptionally heavy rain, with some places over 400mm, would fall on the midlands and mountainous areas of the North tonight until October 7. Storm No. 11 (Matmo) was approaching the shore, many localities simultaneously activated response scenarios, including widespread school closures, beach bans, and flood discharge regulation of hydroelectric reservoirs.

Storm approaches Mong Cai, intensity decreases but affected area expands

According to an update from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, the eye of storm No. 11 has moved faster and is closer to shore than at noon the same day.

Location of storm No. 11's center at 5:00 p.m. and the landing area according to the model of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 5:00 p.m. on October 5, the center of storm No. 11 was located at about 21 degrees North latitude - 109.8 degrees East longitude, only about 210km East Southeast of Mong Cai ( Quang Ninh ).

Location of storm No. 11 at 0:00 on October 6 according to the US model

The storm has entered the Gulf of Tonkin, its intensity has slightly decreased to level 12, gusts of level 15, and it continues to move west-northwest at a speed of 20-25km/hour. It is expected that in the early morning of October 6, the storm center will make landfall in Guangxi province (China), about 50km northeast of Mong Cai, with its intensity remaining at level 8-9, gusts of level 11.

Although the intensity has decreased, the level 3 disaster risk area has expanded, including the coast from Quang Ninh to Hung Yen, Lang Son province and the eastern part of Cao Bang province.

Warning of extremely heavy rain, high risk of flash floods and landslides

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting continues to warn: From the night of October 5 to the end of October 7, the midland and mountainous areas of the North will have very heavy rain, with a common amount of 150-250mm, and many places over 400mm. Meanwhile, some places in the North Central and South Central regions on the afternoon of October 5 had rain but not heavy, commonly under 30mm, some places such as Hua Na hydropower plant (Nghe An) and Cat Tien ( Lam Dong ) had rain of 38-84mm.

Emergency flood discharge, sea ban in the entire Northeast region

Currently, large hydroelectric reservoirs such as Hoa Binh, Son La, Thac Ba, and Tuyen Quang have all increased discharge to regulate floods. In particular, Hoa Binh reservoir recorded a sharp increase in water flow, reaching 3,169m³/second.

According to the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, updated to 5 p.m. today, 4 localities including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh still maintain the sea ban, temporarily suspending all boat activities. Data up to 4:30 p.m. the same day shows that there are only 53 ships with 280 workers on their way to shore, a sharp decrease compared to the number of more than 1,500 ships in the morning.

Ninh Binh Provincial Police mobilized forces to support the reinforcement of river and sea dykes in the southeast of Ninh Binh province. Photo: CACC

Large-scale school closures, switching to online work

With the forecast of storm No. 11 making landfall in the Northeast region on October 6, causing heavy rain in the North, many localities have directed students to stay home from school to ensure safety:

Hanoi : All 2.3 million students at all levels will be off school on October 6 and will switch to online teaching. The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee has also directed officials, civil servants, and public employees to work online on this day.

Quang Ninh : Schools are directed to temporarily suspend in-person teaching and may switch to online teaching during the storm.

Hai Phong : Educational institutions can proactively decide on school closures, but must notify parents before 9:00 p.m. on October 5.

Ninh Binh: Instruct schools to proactively let students stay home when strong winds, heavy rains, flooding or landslides occur.

This is considered a proactive and timely preparation step after the lesson from storm No. 10 on September 30, when heavy rain caused flooding, traffic chaos and the announcement of school closures was made too late.

PHUC VAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cap-tap-ung-pho-truoc-gio-g-bao-so-11-ap-sat-nhieu-dia-phuong-cho-hoc-sinh-nghi-hoc-cam-bien-xa-lu-ho-chua-post816480.html