Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked central coastal provinces to evacuate local residents from flood-prone areas before 09.00 am on September 30 before typhoon Wutip makes landfall.

The mandatory order was also released for fishermen living on fishing boats and farmers at fish caged farms.

At an urgent meeting in Thua Thien-Hue province on September 29, Hai asked central coastal provinces to be well prepared for Wutip, which is regaining strength and heading towards the central region.

Wutip is forecast to bring heavy rains to the Central Highlands and mountainous areas that may cause flash floods and landslides, he warned.

Deputy PM Hai said evacuation is a must to minimise losses before Wutip makes landfall

Thua Thien-Hue leaders said the province has called in fishing vessels and deployed prevention plans, including resident evacuation.

By the evening of September 29, Thua Thien-Hue has guided more than 1,800 fishing vessels to travel ashore and evacuated more than 1,500 local residents to higher areas.

It planned to move over 11,000 local residents from high-risk areas to safe grounds before the typhoon strikes.

The province has stockpiled sufficient necessities, including food and fuel, to be supplied to people, especially in Nam Dong and A Luoi mountain districts in case they are isolated by floods.

All students were required to stay at home as of September 30.

Wutip, with winds gusting up to 149kmh is heading towards the central coast

At 19.00pm on September 29, Wutip was churning around the western part of the Hoang Sa (Spratly) archipelago, packing winds of up to 149 kilometres per hour.

In the next 12 hours, the typhoon is forecast to move west at a speed of between 15-20 kilometres per hour.

At 07.00am on September 30, it will be 150km east of the central coast from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien-Hue, with sustained winds of between 134-149kmh near its centre.

In the next 12 hours, it is likely to change its direction into west and north-west and batter provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Tri.

The typhoon will dump heavy rains on central coastal provinces and cause high tidal surges of 3-4m.

VOV