One killed as Typhoon Rai batters coastal provinces

Typhoon Rai, the ninth typhoon of this year, hit Bình Thuan province on Sunday, killing at least one person dead, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The 38-year-old fisherman from Chi Cong Commune, Tuy Phong District, was confirmed dead after his boat capsized on Sunday morning.

Rough seas also sank five fishing vessels and damaged three in the waters off Tuy Phong District.

The typhoon also damaged trees, solar panels and blew away some roofs on Song Tu Tay and Da Nam islands as it hit Khanh Hoa province.

More than 400 aquaculture cages in Cam Binh and Cam Lap communes were also damaged.

Le Minh Hai, head of Economic Division of Cam Ranh City, said local officials have not been able to calculate in detail the damage caused by the typhoon due to further high waves on Sunday evening.

Orchards and some areas on Truong Sa island district were damaged.

In the past 24 hours, Khanh Hoa province saw the lighter rainfall of about 10mm.

In Phu Yen province, hundreds of border soldiers were mobilised on Sunday night to help local residents in Tuy Hoa City as high waves combined with high tides caused deep flood in ward 6, affecting more than 100 households.

Nearly 200 soldiers arrived on scene to evacuate people and their property to safe places, said Lt Col Tran Trung Thuy, deputy chief of staff, provincial Military Command.

Local residents said this was the most dangerous and biggest tides in recent years in Tuy Hoa City.

Yesterday, the City People’s Committee mobilised other forces to urgently deal with the consequence of the tide.

Hundreds of people had sought emergency shelter as the tide flooded 100 houses, with the losses of about 645 million dong (over RM118,000).

Rai Typhoon is expected to move north-northeast at around 20kph.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control asked provinces from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang to closely monitor forecasts and developments and guide ships to safe anchorage and adjust fishing plans and other activities on the sea, islands and rivers. — Vietnam News/ANN