Flights cancelled as tropical storm Wipha approaches northern Vietnam
Image by accuweather.com.
HANOI, Aug 2, 2019, NDO. Vietnamese airlines have cancelled and rescheduled many flights on August 2 and 3 as Tropical Storm Wipha is heading towards the country’s northern coast, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds, reported the Nhan Dan Online.
Cancellations affect the flights that depart or arrive at Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong and Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh province, where Wipha is forecast to make landfall later on August 2.
As of 4am on August 2, the tropical storm was located at about 180 kilometres from the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coast with wind speeds of 75-90 kilometres an hour and gusts of up to 118 kilometres an hour.
It is expected to pummel northern Vietnam with downpours as high as 400mm in some locations, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions.
The capital Hanoi is also expected see heavy rains of 100-200mm and strong winds from the afternoon of August 2.
The Gulf of Tonkin, including the islands of Bach Long Vi, Co To, Cat Hai and Van Don, will experience very rough seas with waves as high as 3-5 metres while the coast from Quang Ninh to Hai Phong could see tides of 4-4.5 metres.
On August 1 Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung signed an emergency telegram urging the localities on the storm’s track, including Hanoi, to focus on measures to cope with the storm.
He asked the local authorities to watch Wipha closely, instruct boats on the sea to navigate to safe shelter, evacuate people from areas prone to disasters, and ensure the safety of dykes and reservoirs.
The Deputy PM also called for measures to protect crops, communications networks, and prepare resources to deal with the consequences in the case of disasters.
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