Storm Noru makes landfall in central Vietnam

A representative of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Rescue on Ly Son District said the power went out for the entire island starting 12 a.m. Several houses reported having their roofs blown off and trees were felled, though there were not exact statistics. The winds were still strong even at 2 a.m.

In Quang Ngai’s Son Ha District, chairwoman Dinh Thi Tra said the rain has died down a bit at 2 a.m., but the winds got stronger than it was an hour ago. Water was rising in rivers, causing inundations at certain areas in the district. However, the power was still on and there was no human casualty reported.

Winds and rains batter the Ly Son Island of Quang Ngai. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Thoi

The constant winds and rains have been knocking on people’s roofs and doors all night. Ha Anh Ngoc, 44, said she could still hear how the winds howl and how her metal roof vibrates with every gust, despite, having closed down all doors and windows.

Tran Trung Hung, owner of a manufacturing business in Lien Chieu District, said he had deployed two employees to stay back at the shop to keep watch and fortify it within the night. He also enlisted the help of rescue forces to help, worrying that the walls might collapse during the storm.

 

 

Storm Noru makes landfall in central Vietnam

Bão vào Đà Nẵng

Blackouts have been observed in multiple areas, like Thanh Khe and Cam Le districts.

“Fortunately, I’ve already purchased flashlights and phone chargers as a precaution,” said Hoa, a local in Thanh Khe District.

Authorities said they had to cut off power in certain areas in response to certain issues, like malfunctioning stations or felled trees.

As storm Noru approached the Da Nang-Quang Ngai shoreline, it slowly weakened. Its maximum wind speed was recorded to be at 133 kph, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Rain levels recorded from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday range from 230 mm to 330 mm, depending on certain locations in Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang and Quang Ngai.

In Quang Nam’s Tam Ky City, gusts sweep through rows of trees in the area, breaking off branches. Rains meanwhile pound on people’s roofs like beating drums.

Most people have been recommended to stay home. Those living in dilapidated homes have bene advised to go to their loved ones’ or neighbors’ houses to seek shelter from the storm.

Doan Van Hoi, who lives in Tan Thanh Ward, said he couldn’t sleep a wink.

“I’m worried that the winds would tear off the roof, that floods would soon follow and isolate us,” he said.

About 20 km away from Tam Ky, Vuong Thi Dung, who lives in a coastal commune of Thang Binh District, said the winds have been picking up strength along with the rains. She stays with her entire family in their own home as they have two rooms reinforced with concrete.

“Upon hearing that the storm would come, our family has fortified pur home since yesterday. Now we wait for the storm to pass,” she said.

Rows of trees in Quang Ngai sway violently as the winds howl in the night. Streets are virtually empty as most people have already hunkered down in their own home.

Streets in Quang Ngai are rendered empty.

A man rides a motorbike through Tra Bong Bridge at 10:30 p.m. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting says Ly Son Island is experiencing increased storm intensity.

Currently, the eye of the storm is about 130 km from Da Nang, about 115 km from Quang Nam and about 108 km from Quang Ngai to the east with a maximum wind speed of 149 kph.

Over the next 3 hours, the storm will proceed west at 20 kph.

So around 1-3 a.m. Wednesday morning, the eye of the storm can hit the mainland.

Rainfall from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on September 27 was recorded at over 200 mm in areas like Bach Ma (Thua Thien Hue), more than 240 mm in Suoi Da (Da Nang) and 220 mm in Lao Cham (Quang Nam).

The traffic police department said Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has requested for traffic on both ends of routes leading through central Vietnam and the Central Highlands to be suspended starting 10 p.m.

Authorities have banned traffic routes like the National Highway 1A, National Highway 14, the Ho Chi Minh Road, the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Highway, along with other routes from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa and from the Central Highlands to central Vietnam localities.

Traffic police in Da Nang erected barriers to restrict traffic, Sept. 27, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Hoa

Pham Thi Huong, chairwoman of the Ly Sin District People’s Committee in Quang Ngai, said storm Noru has made landfall in the area, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. All personnel have been dispatched to respond to the storm and the people have been evacuated. No casualty was reported.

 

 

Storm Noru makes landfall in central Vietnam

Bão vô đảo Lý Sơn

It was raining heavily and strong winds were blowing at the Thuan An estuary in Hue’s Hai Duong Commune. The rising waters created big waves that overflowed the breakwater.

The road in Thai Duong Ha Nam Village was flooded with more than 40 cm of water, leaving 40 households in the Huong Giang hamlet isolated. The local police force has been assigned to help the hamlet’s residents.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the storm is currently about 140km from Da Nang, about 127km from Quang Nam and about 117km east of Quang Ngai, with a maximum wind speed of 166 kph.

In the next 3 hours, the storm will move westwards at 20 kph.

Due to the influence of the storm, Hue, Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh), Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen) and Da Nang have experienced strong winds and heavy rains. Rainfall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday was recorded at over 180 mm in Bach Ma (Thua Thien Hue), 197 mm in Tho Quang (Da Nang), 200 mm in Cu Lao Cham (Quang Nam), more than 200 mm in Nui Thanh (Quang Nam) and nearly 190 mm in Tra Phu (Quang Ngai).