VietNamNet Bridge – Haitang, the fourth tropical storm this year, is forecast to continue to intensify, bringing heavy rain to the central region and northern parts of the Central Highlands during the next few days.

Photo: NCHMF
As of 7pm today, the storm is forecast to be 100km northeast off the central coast of Ha Tinh and Quang Nam provinces with wind speeds of between 62-88kph.

The system is forecast to move west-northwest at 15kph for one more day before downgrading into a tropical depression. It is also forecast that at 7pm tomorrow, the centre of the tropical depression will hang over the central part of neighbouring Laos.

Swells from the storm will cause rough seas in the northern and middle parts of the East Sea, around the southern part of the Gulf of Tonkin. Thunderstorms are expected in the southern part of the East Sea and waters off Binh Thuan down to Ca Mau.

In an urgent meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention and the National Committee for Search and Rescue yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai asked relevant agencies to contact vessels in indicated areas and make sure they stay informed about places to find safe shelter from the storm.

As of 4pm yesterday, local authorities in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces had already informed all of their fleets of 4,300 and 2,000 vessels respectively about the storm while Quang Nam and Binh Dinh provinces had yet to reach 79 and 2,300 vessels, respectively.

He also urged local authorities to ensure water levels at reservoirs are under control and people are urged to prepare for possible flooding and landslides.

Hai also requested eight provinces in the Mekong Delta to mobilise all the resources available to strengthen the dyke systems to protect people and crops. Any locality that requires more support was urged to quickly report to the Government for assistance. The Mekong Delta is struggling to fight against record-high floodwaters.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News