According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the tropical depression in the East Sea (South China Sea) has developed into storm Wipha. At 16:00 on July 31, the storm was at 19.3 degrees North latitude and 112.6 degrees East longitude, 230km to the East of Hai Nam Island, with wind speeds of 60-90 km per hour.

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Border troops have instructed trawlers to take shelter. (Photo for illustration: VNA)

The storm is forecast to enter the Gulf of Tonkin on the afternoon of August 1 and becomes stronger. At 16:00 on August 1, its center is at 20.9 degrees North latitude, 109.5 degrees East longitude and in the East of the Gulf of Tonkin, some 210km from Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province and some 320km from Nam Dinh province. The wind speed near the storm’s center is at 75-90 km per hour. At 16:00 on August 2, the storm’s center will be at 21.2 degrees North latitude and 107.4 degrees East longitude and on the waters of Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city with the wind speed of 60-90 km per hour.

Storm Wipha brought along heavy rains in Northern provinces from the evening of July 31 to August 4. The storm will also hit Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Besides, Northern mountainous provinces may face flash floods and landslides.

As of 16:00 on July 31, border guards from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa provinces teamed up with local authorities to instruct 69,402 vehicles operating at sea and inform 274,461 people of the developments of the storm so that they could take shelter in time.

Also on July 31, 120 people, including militiamen, were mobilized to search for a person in Vo Lao commune, Van Ban district, Lao Cai province. The missing was swept away by flood while crossing Nam Ma spring.

Translated by Mai Huong