The sixth tropical storm of this year was forming to the south of the Hoang Sa Archipelago, and was expected to bring heavy rains to northern and central-northern regions today.

Up to 200mm of rainfall is forecast by the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre, which warns mountainous provinces to prepare for possible flashfloods and landslides.

The storm was about 200km east of the Hoang Sa Archipelago at 1pm yesterday. Wind speeds near the eye of the storm have been measured at 62-74km per hour.

In the next 24 hours, it is forecast to move northwest along coastal central provinces at a speed of 20-25km per hour.

The storm is expected to continue heading northwest and make landfall in provinces in the northeastern region this evening before weakening to a low tropical pressure front.

The front will travel further inland into northern midland areas tomorrow, with winds falling to less than 39km per hour.

The National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control has warned coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa to take measures to cope with the storm.

The committee has also instructed localities to inform offshore vessels to avoid dangerous zones and seek storm-shelters.

Border guards in coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau have sent storm-warnings to more than 41,400 vessels operating offshore with over 200,500 people aboard.

The Ha Noi Sewerage and Drainage Co Ltd has prepared plans to prevent the capital city from being flooded by the storm.

"Workers are on duty around the clock in areas with a high risk of flooding, and work has been completed to lower the water levels in rivers and clear drainage systems," said the company's director, Tran Trong Van.

The previous storm which hit the northern region last weekend claimed six lives and injured 11. More than 2,100 houses and over 5,200ha of rice were damaged by the storm.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a request to the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi to assist 32 Vietnamese fishing vessels.

The ministry requested that the boats be anchored to Hainan Island if necessary and emergency support be provided to the 314 people on board.

Meetings in northern Hai Phong City were suspended yesterday to focus efforts on dealing with the storm. The city also notified 3,000 boats and 9,600 sea workers of the weather conditions.

From noon today, Hai Phong will temporarily halt all water transport in and out of Cat Hai District, Bach Long Vi, Do Son and Kien Thuy.

Efforts will be made to move residents who live near aquaculture farming areas.

Plans afoot to cope with Storm No6

The National Committee for Flood and Storm Control held another meeting in Hanoi on August 7 to discuss measures to deal with Storm No6.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang urged ministries, departments and localities to closely monitor the movement of the storm, guide ships and vessels at sea to find shelter and make plans to ensure safety for human life and property.

Localities have to check dykes, dams, reservoirs and projects and prepare evacuate local people out of danger areas when need be, Thang insisted.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the storm will make landfall in Thanh Hoa and north-eastern provinces and directly affect Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces.

Coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa provinces will be at risk of rising sea level. From the evening of August 7, northern provinces will have heavy rains with average rainfall of 200-300mm.

Border guards from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces have already informed 64,205 fishing vessels with 263,975 fishermen on board about the direction of the storm and urged them to find shelter.

There are only 5 vessels with 58 fishermen operating off Hoang Sa islands in the East Sea. About 21,637 vessels with 88,362 people are staying put or just operating near the coastline from Quang Ninh to Thua Thien Hue. Meanwhile, other vessels with 175,219 people on board reportedly remain in the waters around Truong Sa islands.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 6 sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, asking them to allow 35 vessels with 336 fishermen to anchor at Hainan Island.

Source: VNS/VOV