A tourist boat on Ha Long Bay
Boats were only allowed to return to shelter and complete this by 3pm the same day. The suspension will remain in place until further notice.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 1pm on August 18 the tropical depression’s center was located at 19.4 degrees north latitude and 107.8 degrees east longitude, about 70 km south of Bach Long Vi Island.
The centre's deputy director, Hoang Phuc Lam, said maximum sustained winds near the centre reached level 6–7, or 39–61 km/h, with gusts at level 9. The depression was moving northwest at 15 km/h.
“In the next 12 hours, it is expected to continue heading northwest at 10–15 km/h, entering the waters off Quang Ninh and Hai Phong,” Lam said.
By 1am on August 19, the centre is forecast to be at 20.9 degrees north latitude and 107.3 degrees east longitude, with winds at level 6 and gusts at level 8. The dangerous zone is north of 18.5 degrees north latitude and west of 109 degrees east longitude. Disaster risk level 3 has been issued for the Gulf of Tonkin, including Bach Long Vi, Cat Hai, Co To and Van Don.
Within 24 hours, the system is expected to continue moving northwest at 10–15 km/h before weakening into a low-pressure area. By 1pm on August 19, it will likely be over Guangxi, China, with winds below level 6. The dangerous zone then covers areas north of 20 degrees north latitude and west of 108.5 degrees east longitude, still posing risk level 3 for the northern Gulf of Tonkin.
The tropical depression is forecast to bring thunderstorms, winds of level 6–7 with gusts at level 9, and waves up to 3.5 metres in the Gulf of Tonkin, causing rough seas. Vessels in these areas may face storms, strong winds and large waves.
