Hai Phong City on Highest Alert for Typhoon No. 1

Hai Phong City, a major port city in northern Vietnam, has declared its highest level of alert in anticipation of Typhoon No. 1 (Maysak). The Chairman of the City People's Committee has instructed all relevant departments and localities to urgently focus on implementing measures to respond to the typhoon. The directive emphasizes that all levels of leadership and management must proactively respond at the highest level, anticipating the worst-case scenarios, and avoiding any passive or unexpected situations. The primary goal is to ensure the safety of people's lives above all else, while also minimizing damage to the property of citizens and the state. Furthermore, efforts to strengthen information dissemination and public awareness campaigns will continue, guiding the populace on implementing preventive measures against typhoons, heavy rains, and floods, ensuring the safety of both people and property. Directives include organizing the protection of houses, warehouses, workshops, offices, educational and medical facilities, dyke systems, reservoirs, infrastructure, and production and business activities, especially in agriculture and fisheries. The city is also required to be ready with personnel and equipment to organize rescue and relief operations in case of adverse situations. People's Committees of communes, wards, and districts are to continue reviewing their plans and, based on the typhoon's progression and local conditions, proactively organize the evacuation and relocation of residents from low-lying areas, landslide-prone zones, and old, weak buildings to ensure safety before the typhoon makes landfall. Particular attention is to be paid to ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, students, and other disadvantaged groups. It is strictly forbidden for anyone to remain on watercraft, aquaculture rafts, or fishing watchtowers when the typhoon makes landfall. This includes special attention to situations involving squalls, whirlwinds, and lightning before and after landfall. These evacuations must be completed by 12:00 PM on July 4th, with the exception of Bach Long Vi island, which must complete evacuations by 12:00 AM on July 3rd. Timely information will be provided to tourists and accommodation facilities regarding the typhoon's developments to facilitate proactive prevention. Under no circumstances should tourists or residents be allowed to go to coastal areas when the typhoon makes landfall. The Chairman of the Hai Phong City People's Committee also requested the Border Guard Command of the city to continue identifying and notifying owners of vessels operating at sea, by all means necessary, to urgently move to safe shelters. Strict management of fishing vessels, tourist boats, and cargo ships is also required, along with organizing vessel mooring and reinforcing aquaculture rafts. It is absolutely forbidden for people to remain on fishing vessels, tourist boats, aquaculture rafts, or fishing watchtowers during strong winds or typhoon landfall, especially tourists at sea and on islands. The Hai Phong City Civil Defense Command has currently prohibited tourist boats, fishing vessels from setting sail, as well as tourism, recreational activities in sea and island areas, and fishing and aquaculture activities, along with other activities in river mouths, coastal, and offshore areas, effective from 4:00 PM on July 3rd. Source: Nhan Dan