The tropical depression in the northern part of the East Sea on Thursday morning intensified into a tropical storm, and it was given the international name Chaba, according to Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Chaba is the first storm to enter the East Sea this year.

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

In its latest bulletin, the National Weather Service said at 1:00am on Thursday, the storm’s center was already located near latitude16°2'N and longitude 115°1'E, and about 400km east of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands. The radius of strong winds at level 6 and gustiness of level 8 was about 120km from the storm’s center.

Over the next 24 hours, the storm will move north-northwestwards in the East Sea at 10-15kmph, and it has greater potential to become a stronger storm.

At 10:00 am on Friday, July 1, the storm’s center will be positioned about 390km northeast of the Hoang Sa Islands with the maximum sustained winds reaching level 8, and gustiness of level 10. The storm is set to move toward northwest at about 5kmph, and it will likely continue to gain strength.

At 10:00 am on Saturday, July 2, the storm's center will be positioned about 120km northeast of China’s Hainan Island with the maximum sustained winds reaching levels 8 to 9, and the gusts as high as level 11.

Due to the influence of storm Chaba, the Northern part of the East Sea and waters around the Hoang Sa islands will see strong winds at levels 6 to 7 while the area near the storm’s center will experience high winds at level 8, and gustiness of level 10 with rough seas and waves as high as 4m to 6m.

The offshore area stretching from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau, including Da Nang, along with the Middle and South of the East Sea will see gradually increasing the southwest wind at level 6, and the gusts reaching levels 7 to 8, and experience rough seas with waves as high as 2m to 4m.

Viet Nam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on Thursday morning urged central coastal localities namely Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to storm Chaba. Focus must be on keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keep local residents timely informed about extreme weather conditions in a bid to keep them safe and protect their properties. In addition, the heed must be paid to helping local residents get ready for such weather conditions in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages. Special attention must be given to taking necessary measures to ensure the safety for tourists in the coastal localities, especially on islands.

The Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue is urging authorities at local level and relevant units to take mitigation measures in response to storm Chaba. 

The Da Nang Border Guard Command is asked to work with Da Nang Coastal Information Station to keep a close watch on storm developmen in the East Sea in order to keep owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about severe weather conditions to help them take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelters during the bad weather.

Special attention must be given to making the resources available in order to organize timely rescue of any person in distress at sea and provide timely support for those who need it during severe weather.

Currently, 92 fishing vessels with 575 fishermen onboard in total that are operating in the Northern part of the East Sea along with another one carrying 7 fishermen that is operating in the Gulf of Tonkin are called to return to shore as the Chaba storm has developed in the East Sea.   

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L