MoIT Issues Urgent Telegram in Response to Typhoon No. 3

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 4:00 PM on July 19, the center of Typhoon No. 3 (Wipha) was located over the northeastern waters of the northern East Sea, at approximately 20.7 degrees North latitude and 118.4 degrees East longitude. The strongest winds near the storm's center reached level 10 (89–102 km/h), with gusts at level 12.

Position and Path of Typhoon Wipha as of 5:00 AM on July 20

Typhoon No. 3 is moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 20 km/h. The storm is expected to continue strengthening as it approaches the northern East Sea. By the afternoon of July 20, it will veer further west-northwest, increasing its speed to 20 - 25 km/h and potentially strengthening further (maximum wind strength at sea may reach level 12, gusting to level 15). The storm center is forecast to make landfall in the Red River Delta and Thanh Hoa provinces, with wind strength at level 8 and gusts at level 10.

Typhoon No. 3 (Wipha) is predicted to be very strong, moving quickly, with a high risk of natural disasters, complex developments, and a broad and dangerous impact on both sea and land. In accordance with Prime Minister's Telegram No. 112/CD-TTg dated July 19, 2025, and to proactively respond to the complex developments of the storm, minimize human and property losses, and following Telegram No. 5305/CD-BCT dated July 17, 2025, the Minister of Industry and Trade requires the heads of units under the Ministry to urgently and effectively implement measures with the highest sense of responsibility as directed by the Prime Minister and local authorities, and promptly carry out the following tasks:

Departments of Industry and Trade in provinces and cities must continue strictly implementing Telegram No. 112/CD-TTg dated July 19, 2025, from the Prime Minister and Telegram No. 5305/CD-BCT dated July 17, 2025, from the Minister of Industry and Trade. They must direct hydropower dam operators in the area to carry out protection of dams, hydropower reservoirs, and production activities; deploy personnel, supplies, machinery, and equipment ready to respond and fix any incidents; strictly follow the approved inter-reservoir and single-reservoir operation procedures; enhance inspections of equipment and machinery to ensure safe dam operations under all scenarios; closely coordinate with local authorities to timely inform downstream communities before releasing floodwaters, especially during emergency discharges.

They must strengthen inspection of safety assurance for mining and mineral processing activities and power grid systems under their management. They must direct industrial and commercial production facilities, especially those near coastal areas or prone to flash floods, landslides, to prepare contingency plans ensuring the safety of people and property and have resources, equipment, and supplies ready for storm and post-storm disaster response.

They must advise provincial People’s Committees to instruct investors of industrial projects, especially hydropower and mining projects under construction in areas at risk of landslides or flash floods, to immediately halt construction during the storm, evacuate workers, equipment, and materials to safe areas, and ensure smooth communication for incident response and rescue operations. They must direct local goods supply enterprises to properly implement essential goods stockpiling plans; review areas at risk of isolation due to floods to develop specific plans to ensure the supply of essentials such as food and drinking water for affected residents.

The National Power System and Electricity Market Operator must mobilize electricity sources appropriately for safe and continuous national grid operation, ensuring sufficient power supply for economic development and public needs. They must work closely with hydropower reservoir operators to update real-time hydrological conditions, flood inflows, and official instructions to optimize power generation; plan reservoir discharge in compliance with inter- and single-reservoir operation procedures and directives from the National Civil Defense Command and provincial-level Natural Disaster Prevention and Control commands. They must cooperate with relevant units to optimize power plant and grid operation modes, minimizing risks of grid and generator unit failures.

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) must instruct local electricity units and hydropower dam operators under their management to be fully prepared with personnel, supplies, equipment, and logistics according to the "four on-site" principle to respond to Typhoon No. 3 and its aftermath; enhance inspection and self-inspection of power grid and hydropower dam facilities to ensure stable and safe power supply, particularly to critical loads; be ready to restore power supply in areas affected by storm damage. They must instruct hydropower plant managers under their jurisdiction to fully comply with this Telegram. They must collaborate with local Departments of Industry and Trade to supervise safety measures for dams, especially vulnerable or under-construction ones, and ensure safe hydropower reservoir operations.

Vietnam National Coal – Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) must instruct coal and mineral exploitation facilities under their management, especially in Quang Ninh province, to proactively inspect safety measures, prevent landslides, and flooding at mines; enhance inspection of tailing dams and waste rock dumps to promptly address any damage. They must rapidly inspect and review storm preparedness at underground and open-pit mines, vulnerable dumpsites, and proactively address issues and ensure safety of facilities and nearby residential areas, especially in the event of heavy rains and floods.

Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) must direct units to inspect safety and storm prevention measures at oil and gas facilities, especially in the northern and central East Sea areas.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) must direct units to implement disaster prevention and rescue plans at each facility (depots, ports, loading stations, pipelines, petrol stations); deploy anti-oil spill measures and ensure safety for petrol depots and stations in storm-affected areas to guarantee fuel supply for the public. They must instruct affiliated units to coordinate with relevant authorities to stockpile fuel at outlets to support disaster response.

Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) must instruct chemical production facilities under their management in storm-affected areas to enhance inspection and review of potentially unsafe locations to promptly fix any deficiencies to ensure facility safety and prevent chemical leaks into the environment.

Hydropower dam operators must strictly adhere to approved inter- and single-reservoir operation procedures, especially in abnormal conditions; operate scientifically, ensure absolute safety for the dam, avoid artificial flooding, and help reduce flooding downstream; especially provide early warnings to residents before releasing floodwaters. They must intensify inspection and assessment of dam conditions, flood discharge, intake equipment, downstream flood warning systems, and promptly rectify any deficiencies. They must implement safety measures for reservoirs, downstream areas, and unfinished works, particularly at vulnerable points or where previous flood damage remains; ensure timely warnings to authorities and residents in emergency discharge situations.

Mining operators must inspect and review tailings sites, mines, storage facilities, tailings dam systems to detect and address any safety risks; clear drainage systems to prevent flooding. They must carefully review terrain slopes, hillsides around and behind ongoing construction sites, warehouses, dumpsites to identify landslide risks and prepare timely response plans. They must inspect and reinforce water drainage, power supply systems, backup generators, and ensure equipment and materials are ready for all disaster scenarios.

The Department of Industrial Safety and Environment Techniques must lead and closely monitor the developments of Typhoon No. 3 and disaster response implementation by relevant units. They must monitor and update disaster response information, damage, and recovery efforts of Ministry units for regular reporting to Ministry leaders. They must instruct units to carry out disaster response measures within their authority and promptly report to Ministry leaders for direction on matters beyond their authority.

The Telegram requests all units in the Industry and Trade sector to regularly update on Typhoon No. 3 and its circulation; organize 24/7 on-call duty and focus all resources following the "four on-site" principle to respond to the storm; strictly implement this Telegram’s content; and submit daily reports before 3:00 PM on the response to Typhoon No. 3 to the Standing Office for Disaster Prevention and Search & Rescue of the Ministry of Industry and Trade via email: VPTT_PCTT@moit.gov.vn.

Le An