JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

​Storm Tembin ravages Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratlys) ahead of landfall

​Storm Tembin ravages Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratlys) ahead of landfall

Monday, December 25, 2017, 12:04 GMT+7
​Storm Tembin ravages Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratlys) ahead of landfall
Rough sea is seen beneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nearly 80 solar panels installed on Truong Sa’s islands including Tien Nu, Truong Sa Dong, Truong Sa, Phan Vinh, Thuyen Chai, Da Tay, Da Lat and An Bang have been blown away by strong winds brought by the fierce storm.

An Bang is the hardest-hit area among the islands in Truong Sa, with 90 percent of its trees uprooted, crops planted by soldiers destroyed and water tanks and lighting systems severely damaged.

Several pig farms on An Bang were unroofed, whereas public notice boards were taken down by lashing winds.

Islanders and soldiers are actively speeding up their rebuilding efforts after storm Tembin left the areas, heading for the mainland of southern Vietnam.

An area on An Bang island is seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
An area on An Bang island is seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A lighting pole destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A lighting pole destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A solar panel destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A solar panel destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A vegetable crop destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A vegetable crop destroyed by the storm on an island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Marine platforms shaken by ‘historic waves’

As Typhoon Tembin swept through Truong Sa, several marine platforms, where Vietnamese Navy soldiers are stationed, were shaken and had many of their facilities, such as oil tanks and staircases, destroyed.

The storm has triggered “the highest waves in the history of maritime platform DK1/15,” Colonel Nguyen The Dinh, from the command of the platforms, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper via a text message at 4:00 am on Monday.

The old structure located next to the DK1/15 was overwhelmed by high waves, Dinh said, adding that the good news is “all soldiers [there] are safe.”

Rough sea is seen underneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Rough seas are seen underneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The wind was so strong that it blew away an oil tank, weighing more than ten metric tons once filled, that had been welded on to the DK1/15 platform’s floor.

A telecom station, the staircase and a pig farm of the platform were also destroyed by the storm.

As of 8:00 am on Monday morning, the wind lost its strength as the storm left Truong Sa, but the platforms were still shaken and overwhelmed by high waves.

The maritime platforms, belonging to the larger group called DK1, are stations set up for economic, scientific and technological services in Truong Sa.

The rigs are complex structures of large steel pipes, and above the steel pipes is the living space for Vietnamese soldiers.

Vegetable pots grown by soldiers stationed on a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Vegetables grown by soldiers stationed on a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
A maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Rough sea is seen beneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are seen in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Rough seas are seen beneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

TUOI TRE NEWS

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Vietnamese youngster travels back in time with clay miniatures

Each work is a scene caught by Dung and kept in his memories through his journeys across Vietnam

Latest news