The national weather forecasting centre upgraded the Typhoon Doksuri barreling toward Viet Nam from level 11 to 12 (of 18), with winds at its eye expected to reach 150km per hour.

The expected path of the storm

Doksuri, said to be the strongest typhoon in a decade, is expected to make landfall between this afternoon and evening.  It will directly hit Viet Nam’s central region, including the 4 provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) in its latest report at 9.00pm on 14  September said that the wind was at 135kph. By 7.00pm the same day, it was 360km off the coast of Ha Tinh to Quang Binh provinces.

The NCHMF forecast rainfall of up to 400mm for localities in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri.  Other provinces could get as much as 300mm of heavy rains.  In the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La, rainfall of 50-200mm is forecast.

The centre said floods were predicted to occur in the river systems from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai provinces between 14 September and 17 September.

The urban areas of Vinh, Ha Tinh, Dong Hoi, Quang Tri and Hue were warned about flooding triggered by heavy rains.  The northern region, including Ha Noi, will be hardly affected by the typhoon.  It is expecting some rainfalls over the weekend, though.

Coastal provinces on 14 September continued making preparations. 

In Nghe An Province, students are off from school until the storm passes.

In Thanh Hoa Province, the Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, Mr Nguyen Duc Quyen, ordered authorities in mountainous areas to make plans to evacuate about 247,867 people living in areas at risk of landslides and flash floods.

In Da Nang, 162 ships carrying 1,300 fishermen near provinces of Quang Ngai, Thua Thien-Hue, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago of Viet Nam, had received storm warnings, and all of them were heading for safe shelters.

The city banned all operations by fishing ships on 13 September evening, and set up emergency teams at vulnerable lowland areas in preparation for heavy rains.

Ships and cruise vessels around Quang Nam Province's Cham Islands and Quang Ngai Province's Ly Son Island anchored safely at ports on 14 September.

(Source: VNA/DA NANG Today)