Doksuri, the biggest storm to hit Vietnam in many years, is forecast to make landfall in the central region late on September 15 and early September 16, said Hoang Duc Cuong, head of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

The map showing the projected path and affected areas of Doksuri. 

According to NCHMF, as of 7 am on September 14, the storm’s centre was located on the Southeast waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, with the strongest winds in the area near the centre of Doksuri reaching 90-100kph.

It is forecast that, in the next 24 hours, the storm’s location will be approximately 17.4 degrees north latitude and 107.8 degrees east latitude, entering the waters between Nghe An to Quang Tri provinces and packing winds of up to 115-150kph.

The Prime Minister has issued a dispatch directing localities and ministries to implement plans to deal with the upcoming storm.

Ministries, agencies and localities have been asked to closely watch the movement of the storm and alert vessels to either seek shelter or sail out of dangerous areas.

Provinces have been asked to prepare rescue forces and vehicles, while submitting regular reports on the situation to the offices of the National Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, asked the NCHMF to keep a close watch on the developments of the typhoon in order to provide accurate forecasts.

The NCHMF has also been urged to coordinate with news agencies to accelerate communications on response measures for people to minimise human and asset losses as the storm impact scale could reach up to 500-600km.

Minister Cuong requested that the coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh closely follow the storm’s development, inform ship captains of its position and movement, and ban swimming at beaches to ensure safety.

He directed border guard and fisheries surveillance forces to call on ships to get out of dangerous areas.

Northern and northern central localities are also required to keep a close watch on the storm’s developments in order to be ready to carry out measures in response to flash floods and landslides.

Nhan Dan