A meeting was held in Hanoi on September 24 between Deputy PM Nguyen Sinh Hung, and representatives from the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control to discuss prevention measures against the storm.

According to the National Meteorological Forecasting Centre, the strong storm Hagupit is moving at a speed of 20-25 km per hour, packing winds of up to 14-15 category.

In less than 48 hours, the storm will be moving west and north-west at a wind speed of 15 km per hour and gradually weaken to become a tropical depression.

However, there will be strong winds, heavy rains and rough seas along the northern coast.

The centre of the storm is likely to hit northern mountainous provinces, including Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang and produce rain accumulations of 200-300 mm, up to as much as 400-500 mm leading to flash floods and landslides.

Under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, ministries, sectors, localities and armed forces are bracing themselves for emergencies.

Earlier, On September 23, the Prime Minister sent urgent telegrams to the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other ministries.

The PM asked local authorities to take urgent measures by stopping boats and vessels from setting out to sea and calling on all vessels and fishing boats to move out of the danger zone while maintaining a continuous patrol of the dyke system and evacuating people to safe areas.

PM Dung asked the people's committees of mountainous provinces to implement plans to prevent landslides and assist in the evacuation of residents.

Relevant ministries, departments and localities need to prepare necessary human resources and equipment for emergencies, and closely follow the development of the storm.