Six people have been reported dead, while 23 others are still missing at sea. This was due to a very changeable and powerful northeast wind that has affected central area over the last few days.

Nguyen Lam is saddened by the fact that his three sons are still missing in Long Dien District, the southeastern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau (Photo: Tuoi Tre)Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, at a meeting instructed rescuers to find the missing people still at sea. They are from provinces like Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Minister Phat, who is chairperson of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention, said that the people in the provinces from the south side of Hai Van mountain pass to the southern region have experienced the loss on life and the destruction of property, because of the strong winds.

In the Gulf of Tonkin, the winds had even been at level 10 (89-102 kilometers an hour). Several high waves were up to 4-7 meters high, siking boats. 

The National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center said that the weather has been more anomalous with a slew of cold fronts causing vortexes and strong waves at sea.

Although the national weather bureau had forecasted that the winds might hit dangerous levels of 9-10, local fishermen still went out on the rough seas.
 
A fishing boat with seven people on board from the Binh Dinh Province was saved on Monday by navy forces. It experienced trouble and eventually sank 95 kilometers southeast off Song Tu Tay Island of Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago on Sunday.

The same day, In the neighboring province of Phu Yen, two boats sank by large waves off Tuy Hoa town. All the people on the two boats have been saved.

In related news, 23 members of the Phu Tan container vessel are still missing in the Gulf of Tonkin although rescue forces have mobilized seven boats and a helicopter in the rescue effort.

Related articles:
Seven fishing boats sunk in Vung Tau
Two of five missing fishermen found dead in Thua Thien-Hue

Source: SGGP