Storm Saudel, the eighth to hit the East Sea (South China Sea) so far this year, is moving west-northwest at a speed of about 10 km per hour and is forecast to gain strength, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
As of 16 p.m. on October 24, the storm was about 100 km east of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago with the wind speed of up to 100 km per hour. In the next 24 hours, the storm will move west at a speed of 15-20 km per hour.
8,984 officers and soldiers and 262 vehicles were sent on search and rescue missions, as well as to help local people overcome natural disaster consequences.
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Moving local people to a safer area |
The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported that as of October 24, 123 people have been killed, and 19 others have gone missing. The natural disasters also damaged 813 houses, and flooded and destroyed hundreds of hectares of rice and other food crops.
The Ministry of National Defense directed MR4 and MR5 to mobilize their troops to help local people soon stabilize their lives. Notably, the armed forces presented instant noodles, milk, dry rations, clothing, lifeboats, power pumps, and life jackets to flood-hit people in Central Vietnam.
From October 22 to 24, the Border Guard Command of Nam Dinh province, in association with the provincial Military Command, sent hundreds of troops to the communes of Giao Nhan, Hong Thuan, and Giao Huong to help locals harvest rice crops submerged by the recent flooding.
Division 968 under MR4 has just mobilized 500 troops and vehicles to assist local people in Quang Tri and Thua Thien - Hue provinces in overcoming the flooding consequences. The troops helped people clean up the environment, dredge mud on rural roads and collect waste.
Translated by Lam Anh