Military officers help fishermen in Ninh Binh Province anchor boats to avoid Typhoon Wipha on July 21.
By the end of July 20, authorities in Thanh Hoa Province reported that 5,755 out of 6,555 boats had returned and anchored safely, with 16,606 workers brought ashore.
Local officials are continuing to monitor, count and direct the remaining vessels at sea to exit dangerous areas and seek safe shelter.
As of early morning on July 21, heavy rain and strong winds were reported across Thanh Hoa, damaging more than 200 houses in Son Thuy Commune.
More than 200 houses are damaged by heavy downpours and strong winds in Son Thuy Commune, Thanh Hoa Province on July 21.
In Nghe An Province, the chairman of the provincial People’s Committee issued an urgent directive on the evening of July 20, banning all vessels from heading out to sea from 5 am on July 21. Boats still at sea were ordered to return and dock by 10 am.
Nghe An has more than 3,400 fishing vessels. By 5 pm on July 20, local authorities had guided 574 boats with nearly 3,000 crew members to safe anchorage.
Ninh Binh Province also imposed a sea ban from 7 am on July 21.
Earlier, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Hung Yen had already issued similar bans in the afternoon of July 20.
In Directive No. 117 issued on emergency preparations for Typhoon Wipha, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged local authorities to control movement, manage traffic flow, and advise people to stay indoors during the storm, especially during the pre-landfall thunderstorms and strong winds.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the typhoon is expected to impact northern and north-central Vietnam from the evening of July 21, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. There is a high risk of flash floods, landslides in midland and mountainous areas, and urban flooding in low-lying regions.
