Typhoon Tembin, the 16^th storm to hit Viet Nam this year, is closing in on the Southern region with destructive power.

Typhoon Tembin is changing its direction and heading towards Ca Mau. Source: NCHMF

By Monday morning, Tembin had been located in the western part of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, with winds reaching 115 to 135km per hour, with the risk of natural disasters projected at level four out of five.

Mr Hoang Duc Cuong, the Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) said at yesterday’s press brief that typhoon Tembin entered the East Sea at 10.00pm on 23 December.  The typhoon’s strongest wind speeds are ranging between 115-135kmp up to level 15 and the typhoon is continuing to gain strength.

The storm is approaching southern Viet Nam at a speed of 25kph, and is forecast to hit provinces from Ba Ria - Vung Tau to Ca Mau carrying winds of around 90kph late tonight, 25 December, and from 26 December, coastal areas of Binh Thuan, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, and others will have strong winds over level 6.

An impression shows how typhoon Tembin causes downpours in Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau and other localities in the southern coast.

Sixteeen is a record number of storms to enter the East Sea in a year.  This is a strong year-end typhoon with a wide range of influence, and it may be comparable to strong typhoons Linda in 1997 and Durian in 2006 with the risk of natural disasters projected at level 4, Mr Cuong emphasised.

Before entering Vietnamese waters, Typhoon Tembin had already wreaked havoc in the Philippines, claiming the lives of more than 200 people.

In yesterday’s online meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed the southern provinces to be cautious and focus on preparing for the coming storm.

“The strong storm combined with high tide could cause disastrous damage if we're not cautious,” Phuc said.

The authorities in southern localities and the Mekong Delta are planning for the evacuation of over 234,000 households with nearly 950,000 residents in total.

Thousands of fishing ships have been ordered to take shelter during the time.

(Source: DA NANG Today/NDO)