A tropical low pressure zone which appeared off the central coast has created medium to heavy rains to several provinces in the central and Central Highlands regions.
At 7am on Thursday, the system was centered 130 kilometers east off Phu Yen to Ninh Thuan provinces with winds extending to 39-49 kilometers an hour, according to the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center.
In the next 24 hours, the system would remain almost stationary or slowly move westward at five kilometers an hour.
Affected by the tropical depression together with northeasterly winds and turbulence under easterly winds, the northern and middle parts of East Sea, the waters off Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan provinces will be rough with rainstorms and category 7 winds, 50-61 kilometers an hour.
Floodwaters on rivers in central provinces from Quang Ngai to Phu Yen and in the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Gia Lai have quickly risen.
The river flood levels are forecast to continue surging over alarming level 2 and 3. The localities should watch for flash floods and landslides in the mountainous and flooding in low-lying areas.
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