The National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Centre has predicted that Storm ‘Phakhar’ is likely to weaken in strength and turn into a tropical depression by Sunday evening.
At 7am, the storm was centred 9.8 degrees north latitude and 108.7 degrees east longitude, 170 kilometres east southeast of the coast between Binh Thuan and Ben Tre Provinces.
The wind fury near the storm’s eye measured at level 8 moving at 62-74 kilometres an hour.
The storm is forecast to move west at 5-10 kilometres an hour and might downgrade into a tropical low pressure system within the next 12 hours.
By 7pm, the eye of the system is expected to lie along the coastline between Binh Thuan and Ben Tre Provinces. Wind gales will reduce to level 6 to move at 39-49 kilometres an hour.
The tropical low pressure system will then move west and northwest at 10 kilometres an hour and continue to weaken into a low pressure zone by the time it reaches Cambodia by 7am on Monday.
Ho Chi Minh City, southeast, south central and central highland regions will continue to see heavy rainfall, as a result of the tropical low pressure system for the next one to two days.
On Sunday, medium or heavy rainfall persisted in the plains of Khanh Hoa Province, while the mountainous areas remained dry, thus maintaining water levels in reservoirs.
On the same day, precipitation abated in Phu Yen Province and local farmers have resumed harvesting their winter-spring rice crop.
The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control said that relevant authorities from central to local levels are well prepared with all necessary equipment to face any eventuality caused by the storm.
The Border Guard High Command has informed about 48,600 boats that are still out at sea about the progress made in the direction of Storm ‘Phakhar’.
According to the Centre for Flood and Storm Prevention in the central and central highland regions, provinces from Quang Nam to Ninh Thuan have called 24,000 boats to seek shelter. However, 844 boats with 9,700 fishermen were still operating in dangerous waters.
Two fishing boats belonging to Pham Van Mang and Pham Van Quang from Quang Ngai Province were seen drifting 119 sea miles northeast of Phu Lam Island, part of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, at around 5pm on Sunday.
Border army forces managed to rescue the two boats, which had run out of food and fuel and were continually calling for help.
Long An, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh Provinces in the Mekong Delta have also readied to relocate residents from possible affected areas.
Heavy and persistently long downpours have caused problems for farmers trying to harvest their winter-spring rice crop.
Thousands of hectares of rice in Bac Lieu Province has been destroyed by floodwaters. Besides, hundreds of hectares of salt farming areas have also been swept away causing damages of over VND5 billion in the province.
Heavy rain and strong winds also collapsed or blew off roofs of nearly 300 houses in Can Tho City and Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Long An Provinces.
Le Minh Tri, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee in Ho Chi Minh City has instructed Can Gio District to evacuate residents from Thanh An Island, coastal areas and places threatened by flooding or landslides.
Border army forces and the district authorities are keeping a close eye on river mouths and sea ports to warn all boats against sailing out to sea.
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South central provinces prepare to face Storm ‘Pakhar’
