Typhoon Conson, Viet Nam’s the fifth storm this year, is gathering strength, according to projections recently released by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHFM). On the early morning of Sunday, September 12, the storm's centre is likely to be about 300km east of the coast off Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang bearing sustained winds at level 11 near the typhoon eye and gusts approaching level 13 on the Beaufort scale.

The expected track of Conson (Source: The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

At 4:00am today, September 10, the typhoon’s centre was positioned at about 220km south-southeast of the Hoang Sa Islands with the strongest wind at level 10 and a gust at level 12. The radius of strong winds from level 6 and gusts from level 8 upwards is about 160km from the typhoon’s centre.

Conson is now on track to travel westward at a velocity of 15 km/h and is likely to strengthen its power.

At 4:00am on Saturday, September 11, the typhoon’s centre is forecast to be right above the Hoang Sa archipelago, packing with maximum sustained winds at level 11, with gales blowing at up level 13.

Afterwards, it will have a high likelihood of moving westward at a velocity of 5 km/h.

At 4:00 am on Sunday, September 12, the storm's centre is likely to be about 300km east of the coast off Thua Thien Hue Province and Da Nang, bearing the maximum sustained winds at level 11 with gusty gales at level 13

Afterwards, Conson changed its direction to move on its west-northwestern track at a velocity of 10 km/h.

At 4:00am on September 13, Conson’s centre is forecast to be right over the waters off Quang Tri Province with the strongest winds at levels 10-11, gusting at level 13, then change the course to travel northwestward with its velocity remaining unchanged, and then start to decrease in intensity.

After Conson, the East Sea, should expect another 6 - 8 storms and tropical depressions this year, with 2-4 of them directly affecting Viet Nam, national meteorologists said.
NCHFM said it was necessary to closely watch the development of the typhoon because its path and progress was very complicated and hard to give accurate forecast.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Committee on Thursday urged central coastal localities, namely Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa, to ask them to take measures to ensure safety for vessels from Conson.

The local authorities were required to calculate and call on all fishing ships operating in areas expected to be affected by the typhoon to move out of the potentially dangerous areas or seek shelter.

Some localities have prepared mass evacuation plans in areas with strong typhoons and heavy rains if the disaster level reaches level 3 out of 5.

If the disaster level reaches level 3, nearly 74,000 people in coastal areas, more than 114,000 people living along rivers and near dykes, and more than 70,000 residents in areas prone to flash floods and landslides will be relocated.

Heed should be paid to ensure emergency supplies for potential storm victims and developing plans to ensure the safety of medical facilities, field hospitals, and concentrated quarantine sites in the event of a natural disaster.

Of special note, those who need to be evacuated must subject to rapid antigen tests before they are rushed to safety.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by A.T