2 000 homes damaged, 14 people injured as Tropical Storm “Matmo” strikes Vietnam

2-000-homes-damaged-14-people-injured-as-typhoon-matmo-strikes-vietnam

Tropical Storm "Matmo" left major damage in Vietnam after it made landfall on October 30, 2019. At least 2 000 homes were damaged and around 20 000 residents in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, and Quang Ngai displaced. 14 people were also reportedly injured, and one person is missing. 

According to the figures by the country's Disaster Management Authority, 1 750 of the damaged residential properties were in the areas of Binh Dinh, and Quang Ngai provinces. 35 schools have also been affected in Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen. Flooding and landslides left the road in ruins and blocked areas in Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa.

Violent winds and waves damaged long stretches of sea embankment along coastal parts of Binh Dinh. More than 5 000 ha (12 355 acres) of crops were ravaged, mostly in Binh Dinh but also in Quang Ngai and Phu Yen.

Several areas saw more than 300 mm (12 inches) of rain between October 21 and October 31. Minh Long in Quang Ngai recorded 383 mm (15 inches), while An Hoa in Binh Dinh had 345 mm (13.5 inches). 

Heavy rain caused river levels to increase including the Kien Giang River at Le Thuy, Quang Binh, which rose to 2.44 meters (8 feet) as of October 31. The Tra Khuc River in Quang Ngai reached 3.46 meters (11 feet), while the Ve River in the same province was at 3.11 meters (10 feet).

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control released an update on November 1, saying that the typhoon hit Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh the worst. A massive blackout also occurred for hundreds of communes in the affected areas.

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the typhoon had weakened into a low-pressure system by 07:00 LT on November 1, heading towards Cambodia.

The center said that while the typhoon has already slowed down, there are still risks of flash floods and landslides in low-lying areas in provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai.

Tran Quang Hoai, deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, ordered localities to take prompt measures to assist locals for them to be able to return to their daily lives.

Le Van Khoa, head of the Central Region Department for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said authorized agencies in the affected provinces are working to reconnect residents to the power grid.

Ho Quoc Dung, chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh Province, has also told local agencies to repair the damaged sea dike urgently to make sure that 91 nearby households will be safe.

The forecasting center added that around three tropical low-pressure systems were predicted to strike the central region in November.

Furthermore, the agency warned that the first extreme winter would be experienced in the northern region by early January 2020.

Featured image credit: Nguyen Linh

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