Provinces from Binh Dinh to Quang Ninh, which have just resisted storm Conson, are keeping a close watch on the direction of Chanthu churning through the East Sea.

At 13.00 on July 20, Chanthu was positioned at 17.8 degrees north latitude and 115.3 degrees east longitude, about 330km east of Hoang Sa archipelago, packing winds of between 62-88kph near its centre.

In the next 24 hours, the storm – the second of its kind to hit the East Sea this year - is expected to move north-west at a speed of 15kph and continue to strengthen further.

It is forecast to regain its strength on July 22 with winds gusting between 89 and 119kph and head for the southern coast of China. It is likely to move between north and northeast and weaken into a tropical low pressure system the following day.

Chanthu is causing strong winds and rough seas in the northeastern part of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

The Ministry of Health has asked its agencies to mobilise forces to work around the clock while preparing medicines and equipment to provide necessary assistance to provinces to be affected by the storm.

Meanwhile, navy rescue forces on July 20 brought ashore 14 fishermen from Quang Ngai and Khanh Hoa provinces surviving storm Conson. The fishermen were left stranded in the areas near the Hoang Sa archipelago after their vessels were sunk at the peak of the storm.