Tropical storm Rai, currently located off the Philippines, is expected to enter the East Sea on December 18, becoming the ninth storm to hit Viet Nam this year, resulting in rough seas and bad weather conditions on the mainland.

Here is the expected track of the tropical storm Rai. Photo: The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

Rai is projected to carry the strongest winds at levels 12-13, and a gust blowing at levels 14 - 15. The radius of strong winds from levels 6 – 7 upwards is expected to be about 300 km from the storm’s centre, causing strong winds in the coastal waters, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said.

The storm is forecasted to travel northwest and gain in strength, with wind speed climbing to 135-165km per hour.

Of special note, the path of the new storm will be unpredictable as it may interact with an enhanced cold front in northern Viet Nam.

Rai is highly likely to make landfall on Monday next week.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on Wednesday organised a teleconference with 20 provinces and cities in Central and Southern Viet Nam cope with the arrival of storm Rai.

The coastal localities were urged to closely monitor the expected developments, track and forecasts about the potential storm over the East Sea for proactive response.

Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Tran Quang Hoai delivers instructions to cope with storm Rai at the online meeting, December 15, 2021.

According to the Da Nang Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense, 76 fishing vessels and boats hailing from Da Nang are operating at sea, mainly in the northern part of East Sea and the Hoang Sa archipelago waters.

Da Nang’s functional forces were asked to call on all fishing ships operating in areas expected to be affected by the storm to move out of the potentially dangerous areas or seek shelter.

Reporting by HOANG – Translating by A. THU