Prime Minister demands highest-level preparedness, emergency response for Typhoon Ragasa

THE HANOI TIMES — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 22 ordered ministries, local authorities and relevant agencies to take the earliest and strongest measures in preparation for Typhoon Ragasa.

The storm is forecast to be extremely powerful with a wide area of strong winds.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7 AM on September 23, Typhoon Ragasa was located northeast of the East Sea with maximum sustained winds of Category 17, equivalent to a super typhoon.

The storm will travel at 20 kilometers per hour west-northwest and will be 400 kilometers away to the east of China's Leizhou Peninsula as of 7 AM on September 24.

As the ninth storm in the region this year, Typhoon Ragasa could directly affect Vietnam’s northern and north-central provinces between September 24 and September 25.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Typhoon Ragasa could be the most powerful in East Sea history, with winds of level 8–9 upon landfall on September 25.

With Ragasa’s strength forecast to match or exceed 2024’s Typhoon Yagi, the government has elevated its disaster response to the highest level to protect lives and maintain national stability.

In an urgent telegram, the Prime Minister instructed the ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment, Transport, Industry and Trade and Health, and provincial authorities from Quang Ngai northwards to stay on full alert and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

He demanded the ministries and provinces be prepared and perform key measures, ensuring safety for people and minimizing property damage.

Coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Quang Ngai must suspend non-essential meetings, mobilize the entire political system, monitor all vessels at sea, adjust reservoir operations and harvest crops early to reduce losses.

Local authorities must guide fishing boats to safe shelters, reinforce homes and critical infrastructures and be ready to evacuate residents from high-risk areas before the storm makes landfall.

The Prime Minister also requested media outlets to increase coverage on the storm’s developments and provide the public with clear guidance on safety measures.

He urged the Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center must update information every three hours, while media outlets are required to strengthen public awareness campaigns.

More than 300,000 officers, soldiers and militia members, together with 8,000 vehicles and six aircraft, will stand by for emergency response. 

The Ministry of National Defense has directed the Border Guards to track the storm’s path, ensuring safety guidance for 54,000 fishing vessels and 200,000 fishermen.

Localities will review contingency plans, secure critical areas, especially Quang Ninh and mountainous regions at risk of landslides and be ready for evacuation.

The national hotline 112 is operating 24/7 to handle emergencies.