Vietnam races to evacuate people before Molave arrives

HANOI: Vietnam was rushing to ensure more than half a million people were out of harm’s way yesterday, before the arrival of a powerful typhoon set to dump more heavy rain on a central region devastated by weeks of intense weather.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled and schools closed in affected areas as Typhoon Molave approached over the South China Sea, packing wind speed of up to 165kmh and expected to make landfall today.

Molave will be the fourth storm to hit the Southeast Asian country this month, deepening a crisis in its central region, where 130 people have been killed in floods and landslips and many are still missing.

State media cited the disaster agency as saying some 572,000 people would need to be evacuated by 11pm last night (NZ time). The government said on

Monday it was preparing to evacuate nearly 1.3 million people.

State broadcaster VTV showed footage of military personnel helping the elderly on to buses and directing boats to come ashore, while residents and soldiers piled sandbags on roofs to secure them.

Molave struck the Philippines at the weekend, causing flooding and landslides and killing at least three people. Thirteen were still missing yesterday, the disaster agency said.

Molave is forecast to hit tourism infrastructure along Vietnam’s central beaches and the Dung Quat refinery in Quang Ngai province. Heavy rain is forecast also for the coffeegrowing Central Highlands.

Coffee traders said heavy rains would hamper the harvest and delay the drying process of the beans. — Reuters