The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention on January 6 informed that Storm Sonamu has caused several boats from the central region to either capsize or suffer engine failure while on the high seas.
At noon on January 5, the engine of one fishing boat with seven persons on board packed up and the National Committee for Search and Rescue had to dispatch a vessel to tow the boat ashore, which arrived at Quy Nhon Port by 8.30pm on the same day.
Phu Hai Long vessel with four people on board faced engine failure off Quang Tri Province while transporting 800 tons of coal from Ninh Binh Province to Dong Nai Province. Border army patrol in Da Nang City sent two vessels with 17 rescuers to tow the boat ashore.
According to the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention, by January 6, about 636 boats with 5,890 fishermen were still operating on the periphery of Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.
By 3am on January 6, high waves and strong winds capsized two boats which were on their way to the mainland in Ha Tinh Province. The accident killed one and slightly injured three others who managed to swim ashore and escape death.
The same day, the People’s Committee of Quynh Phuong Commune in Quynh Luu District of Nghe An Province, said that nine fishermen were rescued from their sunken boat which overturned on January 5 off the coastline of Quynh Luu District. Passing fishing boats nearby saved the nine fishermen.
The national weather bureau reported that Storm Sonamu was located 290km south-southeast of Con Dao Island at 10am on January 7. By January 8 it is expected to move west-southwest and weaken into a tropical low pressure system.
