Hanoi (VNA)– Storm Bebinca is heading to coastline from northern Hai Phong city to northcentral Nghe An province at a speed of about 15km per hour, and is forecast toland over the next 24-48 hours.
According to theNational Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting at 4pm on August 15, thestorm – the fourth to hit Vietnam so far this year – was 350km away from theMong Cai city of Quang Ninh province, 500km from Thai Binh, and 630km from Vinhcity of Nghe An province.
In the next 24 hours,the storm will move west-southwest, boasting winds of about 10km per hour.
After landing inVietnam, the storm is forecast to weaken into a low pressure.
The storm will affect thenorthern region of the East Sea, bringing strong winds and large waves.
During August 15 eveningand August 16, the northwestern region and Hanoi will suffer from heavy rainand thunderstorms.
As part of efforts to preparefor the storm, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong– who is also head of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Preventionand Control – asked for the formation of three working teams to direct QuangNinh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, and Thanh Hoa. The teams will inspect thelocalities’ dyke systems along rivers, responding to concerns of flooding onAugust 16.
Colonel Tran DuongKien, from the Border Guard High Command, said that as of 11am on August 15, 5,347vessels were operating at sea and 30,967 others were docked in safe ports. –VNA