According to the Central Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a tropical low pressure system has formed in the East Sea, and it is moving in a westerly or north-westerly direction at a speed of 10kph.

At 1pm today, 17 September, the system should be positioned in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago area, at latitude 16°6’N and longitude 111°4’E.  The strongest wind speeds near its centre are up to 61kph or level 6/7, and it is forecasted to become stronger. 

The predicted track of the depression

Due to the effect of the depression, the Da Nang area will see scattered showers and thunderstorms today and overnight.  From tomorrow afternoon, moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected, with winds of levels 4 or 5 from the north-east.

According to the Da Nang Border Guard Command, there were 1,125 fishermen on 130 fishing vessels at sea as of yesterday afternoon.

In detail, 301 fishermen on 26 fishing vessels were in the Hoang Sa archipelago area, 83 were on 15 vessels off the coast of Hai Phong City, 57 were on 6 vessels in the coastal areas from Nghe An to Ha Tinh provinces, 374 on 79 vessels in the coastal areas from Quang Tri Province to Da Nang, and 110 on 4 vessels in the coastal areas from Khanh Hoa Province to the northwest of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.  At present, all local fishermen and their boats are safe.  They are fully aware of the low pressure system and are keeping regular contact with the mainland.