Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked coastal cities and provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri to promptly evacuate ships and people from dangerous areas in anticipation of the complicated development of Storm Son Tinh.

He made the request at an urgent meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Flood and Storm Prevention in Hanoi on October 26.

Hai also asked the committee and the National Committee on Search and Rescue to send a working group to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces to check and direct storm prevention activities.

According to Bui Minh Tang, Director of the Central Hydrometeorology Forecast Centre, Storm Son Tinh, the eighth to hit the country this year, is gaining force on its way, but its route is unpredictable.

It is likely to sweep through central provinces from Nghe An to Quang Tri tomorrow afternoon.

Heavy rains from 300-500 mm are forecast for provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri and 100mm for the northwestern region.

By 11am of October 26, more than 38,000 ships with over 192,300 fishermen onboard had been informed of the danger, according to the National Committee on Search and Rescue.

The storm is predicted to weaken into a tropical low pressure on October 28.

Source: VNA/ Photo: VGP