PHÒNG CHỐNG BÃO ! – Prevent storm damage – Prévention des catastrophes naturelles

Analysis: Heavy rains in wake of Cyclone Yemyin on June 26. 1.65 million people affected by flooding. 300,000 to 400,000 houses destroyed. Baluchistan Province – 132 dead. 250,000 homeless and a further 300,000 displaced. Thousands stranded on rooftops and tree branches. Most of Gwadar city evacuated. Bridges destroyed and damage to main coastal highway. Mirani Dam causes flash floods in Dasht. Kishingi, Bhag and Garani dams also broke apart. Sindh Provice – 110 dead. 50,000-60,000 homeless. 460 villages inundated in Kamber-Shahdadkot district.

The flood started on 2007-06-26 and ended on 2007-07-06, with a duration of 11 days. This flood has severity class 1 (i.e. large flood event with significant damage to structures or agriculture; fatalities; and/or 1-2 decades-long reported interval since the last similar event).

The main cause is Heavy rain. The secondary cause is Tropical cyclone.

See rw_fl_pak070705.pdf

HA NOI — The first typhoon of the year made landfall in Quang Ninh Province yesterday and sank at least 5 fishing boats and 2 passenger ships out at sea but no deaths have been reported.

Typhoon Toraji, which in Korean means “a precious flower”, brought wind gusts of 62-88kph and heavy rain, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The typhoon, which began as a tropical depression, caused rough seas in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf.

According to initial reports from the provincial authority, in Co To District, at least six fishing boats sunk during the typhoon. So far, there were no reports of death.

Local residents were evacuated from areas threatened by landslides and floods, the provincial authority said.

The typhoon also caused heavy rain and strong winds on Hai Phong City’s Bach Long Vi Island.

The city authority had informed 23,000 fishing boats of the danger, requesting them to shelter on the islands of Bach Long Vi, Cat Ba and Ngoc Hai.

In Cat Hai district, authorities evacuated people near a weak section of a sea dike yesterday.

The weather bureau said the typhoon continued to move in a north-westerly direction, approaching China’s Guangxi Province.

Ha Noi and provinces on the Tokin Gulf saw heavy rains due to the typhoon.

The Prime Minister yesterday issued an urgent message to ask ministries, the National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control, People’s Committees and relevant offices to prepare measures to cope with the typhoon and limit losses.

The National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control yesterday also sent an urgent message to People’s Committees and other relevant authorities in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong City ordering vessels to return to shore and local authorities to prevent fishermen from heading out to sea.

Evacuating residents in areas threatened by landslides and floods, and rescuing victims were the most important tasks at the moment. — VNS 06-07-2007