Central provinces brace for storm Son Tinh

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) predicts that in the next 24-36 hours, the storm will move between northwest and west-northwest at 15-20kmh and will be centred in coastal Thanh Hoa province  at 16:00 on October 28 with level eight or nine winds (62-88kmh).

It will weaken to a low pressure system and dissipate over the next 48-72 hours, according to the NCHMF.

The Prime Minister has issued a telegram urging authorities in central provinces to take measures to cope with the storm.

The Quang Binh provincial Border Guards have called on all fishing vessels to seek shelter from the storm.

Directly in the path of the storm, Quang Binh will experience heavy rains, which will cause water levels in key rivers to rise and threaten more than 2,000 households with 10,000 people. The province is currently preparing to evacuate people to safety.

Quang Tri province also plans to evacuate 2,000 households in dangerous areas.

More than 11,500 households with more than 40,000 people in coastal districts of Thua Thien Hue province are also scheduled to be moved to safe areas by 14:00 on October 27.

According to the Quang Ngai provincial Border Guards, five out of seven vessels operating in the area of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands have already been docked safely.