Hundreds of tourists are stranded on islands in Quang Ninh Province as Tropical Storm Kajira closes in, authorities relocating them to safe areas and closing down shipping.
Ships take shelter
Some 172 tourists are at Quan Lan island commune. Commune chairman Luu Thanh Vien said the island will be the first to bear the brunt of the slow-moving storm and safety measures are in place.
On Co To Island, shipping was halted as a precaution, stranding about 500 tourists, mostly holidaying university students. Beaches have been closed. Boats and ships have been ordered into storm shelters.
Kajira has slowed from typhoon status to tropical storm over the past few days, but meteorological authorities are finding it hard to predict due to the influence of the El Nino effect in the western Pacific region.
Severe flooding is being reported in southeast China and on China's Hainan Island, but there has so far been no loss of life, though property damage has been extensive.
Forecast path of Kajira
Storm warnings have been issued from Van Don to Ha Long Bay. The storm is slowing, but it remains strong, with wind speeds of more than 100 kilometres an hour being forecast.
The storm is expected to move inland on Wednesday and Thursday, in a west-northwest direction, before becoming a tropical depression.
Flooding is expected on the Red River and Thai Binh River, with the possibility of landslides and flashfloods in northern provinces such as Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh and Thai Nguyen.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Hanoi for the next few days at least.
