Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh orderedthe prompt evaluation of losses caused by Typhoon Noru and immediateapplication of measures to overcome its consequences, support affected people andstabilise production and people’s life during a meeting on September 28.

The PM underlined the need to get students in affectedlocalities to return to school as soon as possible, make sure that no one has to suffer from hunger, cold or has no place to live, and prevent diseases frombreaking out after the storm.

The Government leader said that although Noru is a strongstorm that landed at night, preparations against thestorm were effective thanks to efforts of the administration at all levels andthe community.

The typhoon swept through central localities on September 27 night and early September 28, bringing strong winds and torrential rains.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment, to date, there has been no report on human live loss. Four people were injured, three houses were destroyed and 157 others damaged. Three small boatswere sunken, while 9,427 power transformer stations were damaged, causing poweroutage in 15 communes. The storm also knocked down more than 500 trees in differentlocalities.

The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administrationsaid that on September 28, the storm moved west towards Laos and weakened intoa low pressure. From September 28 noon, it no longer affected Vietnam.

However, due to the circulation of the storm, from September28 to September 30, localities in central and Central Highlands regions fromThanh Hoa southwards are likely to suffer torrential rains.

High risks of flash flood and landslides are forecast inQuang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Tri and Kon Tum provinces.

At the meeting, PM Chinh asked the Ministry of Finance toprovide aid in rice and cash to affected localities based on their demands to help locals settle down and resume production.

Relevant ministries and agencies were instructed toensure smooth traffic, power supply, and clean environment.

At a meeting of the Frontline Steering Committee forresponse to Typhoon Noru the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, headof the committee said that good preparations ahead of the storm have produced good results, with no loss in human life and minimum material losses. He hailedlocalities for their strong performance in bracing for the storm.

Meanwhile, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority ofVietnam (CAAV) said that nine out of 10 airports that had been closed due toTyphoon Noru have been reopened. Airports in Chu Lai, Buon Ma Thuot, LienKhuong and Vinh have been resumed from September 28 noon, while Da Nang airporthas been opened from 1:30pm the same day. The remaining, except for Dong HoiAirport, have been reopened after 2pm the same day. Hundreds of flights to and from the central region had to be cancelled due to the typhoon, affecting tens of thousands of passengers./.