As of 7:00 on January 2, storm Pabuk was about 460km southeast of the southern region and 360km southeast of Con Dao island, with wind speed reaching 75km per hour. It is moving west-southwest.
With the effects of the storm and extreme cold spells, strong winds are forecast to hit the western area of the East Sea, as well as seas of provinces from Quang Ngai to Binh Thuan and from Ba Ria – Vung Tau to Ca Mau.
As of noon on January 2, around 310 fishing ships with 2,210 seamen were still operating offshore Bac Lieu province. The province’s natural disaster control board has contacted all the ships to inform them on the path of storm Pabuk.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Duong Thanh Trung has instructed local officials to guide local residents in taking measures to protect agricultural production and aquaculture ponds.
Kien Giang province has banned local boats from going to sea since 12:00 on January 2.
The local authorities have dispatch forces to help fishermen move fish raising cages to safe places and put in place plans to reduce storm-caused damage and ensure safety for local residents and tourists.
The People’s Committee of the southernmost province of Ca Mau held an urgent meeting on January 2 on preparations to cope with the storm.
The committee’s Chairman Nguyen Tien Hai said Pabuk is not expected to land in the southern provinces but Ca Mau, along with Bac Lieu and Kien Giang, is likely to be affected by the storm.
Local authorities were able to contact all local ships operating at sea on January 1 to inform them of the approaching storm.
