(VOVworld) - Typhoon Haiyan has changed its course, heading towards Vietnam’s north-central and northern coastal provinces. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the typhoon will make a landfall from 22 hours Sunday to 2 hours Monday, with Thanh Hoa and the south-northern delta to be hardest hit. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on Sunday inspected preparations for the super storm. Hai said: “The typhoon is likely to ravage the north-central and northern coasts. All provinces from Ha Tinh to Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Thai Binh should be on high alert”

People are evacuated in Thanh Hoa province

The typhoon will dump heavy rain on the northern region, threaten reservoirs and cause floods. Vu Van Tu, Head of the Office of Central Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control, said efforts should be focused on evacuating coastal residents and aquaculture cages, while calling offshore boats to seek shelter: “The Northeastern provinces are predicted to have a rainfall of 200-300mm, while reservoirs are full of water. In addition, flash floods may cause the collapse of reservoirs, which will be very severe”.

The Hanoi Drainage Company has deployed 100% of its staff to be on duty at these sites. Authorities also lowered water levels of Yen So reservoir at the Yen So pumping station to store rain water. 

Although typhoon Haiyan did not directly hit the central region, it has caused first human casualties, with six killed and eleven injured. Most of the deaths were reported due to accidents during tree cutting and house reinforcement before storm.

Fishermen in Ha Tinh dock their boat

As the typhoon changes its course, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged central provinces to move the people back home, except for some islands. However, the coastal region is urged to stay on alert to cope with bad weather and floods.

In the Philippines, initial reports said Haiyan typhoon killed 1,200 people. The super storm with its winds reaching 315km per hour and powerful wave blew away houses, eroded land and caused floods, blackouts and communication disruption in some islands. Thousands of troops and relief workers are struggling to access the hardest areas.

Powerful waves ravage houses in the Philippines (AP)

Many countries, including the US, have pledged support for the Philippines. US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said helicopters and marine search and rescue equipment will be deployed if there is a direct proposal from the Philippine government.