Local authorities should ensure resident’s food and environmental safety, help them avoid hunger and epidemics, and help repair their homes, schools and infrastructure, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a visit to the central province of Thua Thien - Hue yesterday.

The predicted path of Typhoon Peipah on Nov. 9, 2007

PM Dung arrived in the province to inspect damage caused by recent flooding and landslides.

He presented his condolences to flood victims and expressed his appreciation to local officials for their efforts in evacuating inhabitants in high-risk areas, rescuing victims and recovering losses.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat inspected flood prevention work in the southern coastal province of Ninh Thuan.

In related news, over the next 48 hours, Typhoon Peipah is forecast to keep moving in west-southwesterly at 10 to 15km per hour towards Viet Nam. It is to intensify before approaching the coastal provinces of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa in south central Viet Nam.

Thorough preparations to cope with the impending storm have been made in central regions from Thua Thien - Hue to Da Nang, with the immediate evacuation of 18,458 families to be promptly executed when the storm makes landfall.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have asked permission to have Vietnamese ships anchor in Malaysian waters to wait out the typhoon.

Recent reports from local officials show 55 ships with 502 crew members are still working offshore around the Spratly and Paracel Islands. 

Related articles:
Nation on High Alert as Next Typhoon Approaches
Viet Nam Gets Double Whammy of Flooding, Storms
Central Flood Toll Up to 34, Mother Nature Not Done Yet
Central Provinces Decimated by Flooding Again
Typhoon Peipah Approaching East Sea and Viet Nam
Twenty-Two Killed in Central Flood