Vietnam: Storm Toraji kills 14 in central provinces /update 1

Event

Tropical Depression Toraji made landfall in Vietnam on Sunday, November 18, bringing heavy rains which killed at least 14 people. Officials deployed hundreds of troops to Khánh Hòa province, where flash floods washed out roads and destroyed villages; traffic on National Route 1A, linking north and south Vietnam, was temporarily disrupted. Flooding and destructive landslides also impacted the provinces of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận and rainfall totals of 38 cm (15 in) were reported in Nha Trang (Khánh Hòa province) over the course of several hours. The storm is forecast to continue to move south-southwest into the Gulf of Thailand.

Context

Tropical cyclones and typhoons are common in the western Pacific and South China Sea from June through November.

Advice

Individuals present in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate continued strong winds and heavy rain (and associated disruptions), and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.