Update

Matthew Cochrane

Over the past 36 hours, more than 645,000 people have been evacuated in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Nock-Ten cause major flooding and damage across swathes of the country. Making landfall in the early hours of Wednesday 27 July, the storm swept across 25 provinces and claimed at least 25 lives, with dozens more still missing according to official sources.

Nock-Ten (known locally as Juaning) is the sixth storm to hit the Philippines since May, and serves as a timely and savage reminder that South-East Asia has entered the 2011 storm and typhoon season.

As the storm made landfall over Dinalungan, Aurora Province (North-East of Manila), the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) activated emergency response teams (ERUs) and specialized volunteers. PRC Chairman Richard Gordon ordered amphibious trucks, rubber boats and search and rescue equipment to be immediately placed on standby.

“Extensive pre-storm season planning meant that resources were available, and teams of volunteers had been trained and were ready to swing into action,” said Michael Annear, Head of disaster. Emergency supplies for 10,000 people had been pre-positioned, enabling Red Cross volunteers to quickly distribute food rations and basic supplies to hundreds of people who had fled to evacuation centres across the affected areas.

Now, Viet Nam

Nock-Ten cleared the Philippines early this morning (28 July). However its continued westward course is causing concern for communities on the Eastern Coast of Viet Nam. According to that country’s government, the storm is predicted to hit the provinces of Quang Ninh and Hue on 31 July. Already, communities and local authorities are reporting heavy wind and rain, and warnings have been issued for boats and for fishermen.

An emergency bulletin issued by the Viet Nam Red Cross notes that branches in the areas expected to be affected have been placed on alert, with the organization’s headquarters liaising closely with the government to monitor the storm’s progress.

Once again the value of preparedness and preparation look set to be proven. In Viet Nam, 10,000 household kits (made up of blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen sets and water containers) are available in-country. One water treatment unit is also available along with one million water purification sachets. In all, the Viet Nam Red Cross has USD 1 million available in contingency funding.

Tropical storm Haima

Like the Philippines, Nock-Ten is not the first storm to threaten Viet Nam. In late June, at least 22 people were killed and almost 3,000 homes destroyed when Tropical Storm Haima hit that country’s north-central coast.

After finishing with Viet Nam, Haima then set its sights on Lao PDR. There, the government estimates that at least 35,000 people were affected with 19 killed. The storm also caused devastated the country’s rice crops triggering fears of increased food insecurity right across the country.