Southeast Asia braces for floods<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (DPA): Farmers and other potential victims throughout
\nSoutheast Asia were working feverishly yesterday to shore up
\ndikes, dig canals and fill sand bags as the first of the season's
\ndeadly typhoons began lashing the region.<\/p>\n
In Vietnam, tens of thousands of peasants worked to save their
\nhomes and rice fields from the annual onslaught of flooding,
\nwhich officials warn is coming early this year.<\/p>\n
Rivers across the country are already rising to hazardous
\nlevels and scattered flooding has been reported.<\/p>\n
Vietnam's biggest concerns focus on two river systems, the Red
\nRiver Delta in the north and the Mekong River Delta in the south.<\/p>\n
Officials are particularly worried that major flooding in the
\nMekong Delta could wreak havoc on rice production in the
\ncountry's main agricultural areas.<\/p>\n
The Hong Kong Observatory hoisted the typhoon warning signal
\nNumber 1 on Thursday for the first time this year and yesterday
\nthe Number 3 strong-wind signal was hoisted.<\/p>\n
The observatory predicted that higher strong-wind signals
\nwould probably have to be raised during the weekend if tropical
\ncyclone Victor continues on its present course toward the China
\ncoast.<\/p>\n
The strong winds caused the newly built Tsing-Ma Bridge to be
\npartially closed for the first time.<\/p>\n
Worried officials closed all schools and ordered ferry
\nservices from Hong Kong Island to the outer islands suspended.<\/p>\n
At 4 p.m. local time yesterday (3 p.m. Jakarta time), Typhoon
\nVictor was 460 kilometers south of Hong Kong, packing winds of 65
\nkilometers per hour. Officials said it was picking up speed and
\nheading north.<\/p>\n
The upper deck of the newly built landmark Tsing-Ma Bridge
\nlinking the largest outer island of Lantao with the urban area
\nwas closed to traffic while the lower deck remained open. Trucks
\ncarrying dangerous goods were bared from crossing the bridge.<\/p>\n
H.G. Wei of the Hong Kong Observatory said if the cyclone
\ncontinued its present course it might pass close to Hong Kong
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
The Taiwanese government issued a \"flash rain warning\"
\nyesterday afternoon as typhoon Victor menaced the South China
\nSea.<\/p>\n
In the Philippines, where tropical storms killed 124 people
\nlast year and another 42 so far this year, officials are mounting
\na nationwide disaster preparedness campaign with special emphasis
\non the typhoon-prone northern and central regions.<\/p>\n
Northern relief officials are particularly concerned about the
\nareas surrounding the 1991 volcanic eruption. The thick blanket
\nof ash around the volcano usually turns to a flowing mass of mud
\nduring heavy rainfalls and can bury whole villages.<\/p>\n
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is
\nbroadcasting television infomercials advising Filipinos to stock
\nup on candles, preserved food and other emergency goods.<\/p>\n
In the Thai capital, Bangkok, storekeepers have begun the
\nannual ritual of piling sand bags in front of their businesses to
\nlimit flood damage.<\/p>\n
National and city officials, including the king, have been
\nworking on several elaborate schemes to drain flood water from
\nthe city formerly known as \"Venice of the East.\"<\/p>\n
According to the Interior Ministry's Disaster Relief
\nDepartment, flooding in the country's rich agricultural regions
\nkilled 158 people last year and caused damage worth more than
\nUS$230 million to public property.<\/p>\n
Neighboring Laos suffered some of its worst-ever monsoon
\nflooding last year, particularly in the east where farmers are
\nstill suffering food shortages blamed on the deluge.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/southeast-asia-braces-for-floods-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}