Viet Nam braces for super typhoon Ragasa

The Government chief urged authorities to anticipate the worst scenario and responses to ensure people's lives and minimize damage to the people and the State.

Ragasa is forecast to move into the East Sea on Monday evening with sustained winds of 202–220 kph, becoming the ninth storm to affect Viet Nam this year.

The path of the typhoon is still relatively complex to predict, and international forecasts vary considerably.

It is forecast that on September 24, the storm will gradually weaken. By the night of September 24 and early morning of September 25, it will move into the Gulf of Tonkin with sustained intensity of level 12–14 and gusts of level 15–16. On September 25, the storm is expected to make direct landfall in Viet Nam, in the area stretching from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh provinces.

The Prime Minister requested the Secretaries of the Party Committees and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Quang Ngai—particularly the nine localities forecast to be directly hit by Typhoon No. 9 with extremely strong winds, including Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, and Hue—to postpone unnecessary meetings, mobilize the entire political system to cope with super typhoon Ragasa.

The Prime Minister instructed localities to use all available means to promptly inform boat owners, ship captains, and operators of vessels still at sea about the storm's developments and projected path.

Localities were urged to pay close attention to the risks of thunderstorms and lightning before the storm makes direct impact, and, based on the storm's progression, risks, and levels of impact, to proactively decide on restricting or banning vessels from going out to sea. 

Meanwhile, ministers of eight ministries namely National Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment, Construction, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Education and Training, and Health, as well as the Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and cities from Quang Ngai northwards, must not be negligent or subjective, and must closely monitor, update, and keep firm grasp of the storm’s developments and the local situation./.