According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a tropical depression has strengthened into a storm which is now heading towards the central region.

The storm, the 8^th of its kind so far this year, is slowly moving in a westerly direction, carrying wind speeds of between 62 and 74kph (level 9/10) near its centre.

At 4pm today, 18 September, the storm centre should be positioned at latitude 15°9’N and longitude 110°E, about 160km off the east coast from Quang Tri to Quang Nam provinces. 

Storm mitigation work at Son Tra District's Tho Quang fishing wharf

In the next 24 to 48 hours, it is expected to continue moving in a westerly direction at a speed of about 10kph and it will dump heavy rain on the Da Nang area before weakening into a depression.

To prepare for the arrival of the storm, the Da Nang Border Guard Command has arranged for 300 local officers and men, along with 5 ships, 7 canoes and 8 vehicles, to be available for search and rescue activities at sea.  The coastal provinces are calling on all local fishermen to berth their vessels in accordance with the regulations.