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

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 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 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.

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

Rough seas are seen beneath a maritime platform in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in the aftermath of storm Tembin. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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