At 10.00am on August 6, the storm, the sixth of its kind to hit the East Sea this year, was 280km south east of the Hoang Sa (Paracels) archipelago with strong winds gusting up to 74kph near its centre.
In the next 24-48 hours, the storm is forecast to move north west at a speed of 20-25kph. It will travel along the central coast before making land fall in the northern delta on August 7.
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| The 6th storm is forecast to threaten central and northern coastal provinces in 36 hours |
At an urgent meeting on August 6, the National Committee for Flood and Storm Control asked northern and central provinces to recall fishing vessels still out at sea to storm shelters, as the storm is moving very quickly.
Border guards from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces have informed 41,475 fishing vessels about the direction of the storm and guide them to cruise to nearby storm shelters.
Nearly 1,300 vessels are currently operating in the East Sea, near Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
The National Committee for Search and Rescue has asked border guards in coastal provinces to be well prepared for the storm.
On August 4, hit northern coastal provinces, claiming 6 lives, including 2 in Quang Ninh, 3 in Hoa Binh and 1 in Bac Kan provinces.
