Quang Ninh Province's Department of Agriculture and Environment has requested the Department of Construction, the Quang Ninh Maritime Port Authority, the Inland Waterways Port Authority, and the People's Committees of coastal communes and wards to temporarily suspend permits for vessels to depart. They may allow ships to return to shelter and anchor, completing this process before 2 PM today. Permits for tourism and accommodation activities at sea have also been temporarily suspended.

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 170 help Quang Ninh residents harvest fish before the storm. Photo: Doan Hiep

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 170 help Quang Ninh residents harvest fish before the storm. Photo: Doan Hiep

Police and military forces, in coordination with local authorities, have been assisting residents since yesterday in reinforcing their homes, securing boats, and aquaculture cages. Many households received support in harvesting their aquatic products to mitigate potential losses from the approaching typhoon.

According to the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, all of the more than 4,100 fishing vessels and nearly 500 tourist boats have received information and moved to safe anchorages. 7,900 aquaculture farms, including 800 offshore, have been reinforced, and workers have been evacuated to shore. More than 3,000 officers and soldiers, along with hundreds of vehicles, have been mobilized for search and rescue operations.

Mr. Bui Van Khang, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, has mandated that given Typhoon Ragasa's development, all units must implement comprehensive response measures to prevent human casualties and minimize property damage.

Navy soldiers help fishermen reinforce their seafood rafts. Photo: Doan Hiep

Navy soldiers help fishermen reinforce their seafood rafts. Photo: Doan Hiep

In Hung Yen, the Provincial People's Committee has banned maritime activities from 12 PM today. They have urged heads of provincial departments, agencies, units, and businesses, as well as chairmen of communal and ward People's Committees, to remain vigilant in the face of the storm. The province aims to complete the recall of all vessels to safe shelters and the evacuation of aquaculture workers from low-lying areas along rivers and coasts before 6 PM today.

As of 23/9, Hung Yen province had 1,063 vessels with 3,022 workers. Of these, 754 vessels with 1,937 workers were safely docked at ports within the province, and 15 vessels with 120 workers were docked in other provinces. 272 vessels with 805 workers were operating off the province's coast. All vessels are maintaining contact with their families and authorities.

Hai Phong City has not yet announced a ban on maritime activities. The Standing Committee of the City Party Committee has emphasized vigilance and requested the City People's Committee to provide daily reports before 2 PM on the situation, response efforts, and any damages caused by Typhoon Ragasa. They are also developing plans to ensure stable communication and power supply for operational management.

This afternoon, all 114 communes, wards, and special zones in Hai Phong will meet to implement their response plans for Typhoon Ragasa.

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 170 help residents place sandbags on their roofs to protect against the storm. Photo: Doan Hiep

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 170 help residents place sandbags on their roofs to protect against the storm. Photo: Doan Hiep

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of this afternoon, Typhoon Ragasa is located approximately 500 km from Mong Cai, with maximum sustained winds of level 14 (150-166 km/h), a decrease of two levels compared to this morning. Moving west-northwest at about 20 km/h, the typhoon is expected to make landfall in Quang Ninh tomorrow at noon with winds of level 8-9, gusting to level 11.

Typhoon Ragasa struck Taiwan and the northern Philippines yesterday as a super typhoon, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that resulted in at least 14 deaths and 24 people missing. Millions of people in Hong Kong, Macao, and Shenzhen have been evacuated or advised to stay home as the storm approaches the southern coast of China.

Le Tan - Hoang Phuong