Storm No. 13 is unpredictable, the Deputy Prime Minister requests to put people's lives first

At noon on November 6, at the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha - Deputy Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee - chaired a direct meeting, online connecting with provinces and cities on implementing the response to storm Kalmaegi (storm No. 13,).

Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan said that the province has activated the response scenario with the highest level for 16 communes and wards; level 4 for the remaining 42 communes and wards in the eastern area of the province.

Storm No. 13 is forecast to bring extremely heavy rainfall, with a risk of widespread flooding, exceeding the level previously recorded in history. Up to this point, the province has evacuated 93,000 households with 339,000 people, this work was completed this afternoon.

Currently, all fishing vessels in the province have received information about storm No. 13. As of 5:00 a.m. on November 6, there were 286 ships with 1,602 fishermen operating at sea. However, up to now, there are no fishing vessels operating on the roads and in the affected areas of the storm. All ships have safely anchored on islands in the Truong Sa archipelago. The province has banned the sea from 5:00 p.m. on November 5 and only allowed operations again when the weather is safe.

The Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee has established a Forward Command Department, assigning comrades in the Standing Committee, leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Military Command and the Provincial Police to be on duty in 11 groups in the eastern area and 2 groups in the western area. The units have organized 100% of their troops since the night of November 5.

The provincial armed forces are mobilized to be on duty in key areas with high risk with nearly 8,770 people. The Provincial Military Command alone mobilized nearly 8,000 officers and soldiers along with 92 vehicles of all kinds such as cars, armored vehicles, boats; mobilized 5 mobile unmanned aerial vehicles in key areas and at the regular Command Office to serve the response work.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, storm No. 13 moves very quickly, and is expected to directly affect the mainland at around 6pm tonight. The storm will be strong when it enters the Quang Ngai - Gia Lai area.

The storm has strong destructive power, causing heavy rain, so localities must proactively build many response scenarios, including major floods, rising sea levels, and widespread flooding.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that although the areas of Hue City and Da Nang City are outside the storm center forecast area, they should not be subjective, because this area has just experienced a severe flooding period. Provinces must prepare scenarios if the storm changes direction to respond promptly.

For the eastern area of Dak Lak province (formerly the old Phu Yen), the Deputy Prime Minister requested that this province pay special attention to ensuring safety for aquaculture areas, because it is forecasted that this place may be subject to the strongest storm winds.

The Deputy Prime Minister also requested localities to increase forces, vehicles, and equipment in vulnerable areas; be ready for rescue work, especially in areas prone to isolation, with the top priority being to ensure the safety of people's lives.

Units under the Military Region and the Army Corps must strictly maintain the on-duty regime, prepare rescue forces and means; closely coordinate with localities in evacuating people, breaking up houses, protecting shelters and warehouses.

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