Vietnam races to prepare devastated central region as typhoon nears

By Khanh Vu
HANOI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam was rushing to ensure more
than half a million people were out of harm's way on Tuesday,
ahead of 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 165 kilometres (103 miles) per
hour and expected to make landfall early on Wednesday.
Molave will be the fourth storm to hit the Southeast Asian
country this month, deepening a crisis in its central region
that has seen 130 people killed in floods and landslides and
many still missing.
State media cited the disaster agency as saying some 572,000
people would need to be evacuated by 5 p.m. (0900) on Tuesday.
The government on Monday said it was preparing to evacuate
nearly 1.3 million people from risky areas. State broadcaster VTV showed footage of military helping the
elderly on to buses and directing boats to come ashore, while
residents and soldiers piled sandbags on roofs to secure them
from the approaching strong winds.
Molave struck the Philippines at the weekend, causing
flooding and landslides and killing at least three people, with
13 still missing on Tuesday, the disaster agency said.
Vietnam's prime minister has compared Molave to Typhoon
Damrey, which killed more than 100 people and caused property
damage of about 22 trillion dong ($949.3 million) in central
Vietnam three years ago.
Molave is forecast to hit tourism infrastructure along its
central beaches and the Dung Quat refinery in Quang Ngai
province, with heavy rain forecast also for the coffee-growing
Central Highlands.
Coffee traders said heavy rains will hamper the harvest,
starts from October, and delay the drying process of the beans.
($1 = 23,174 dong)