The tropical low-pressure system has intensified into a typhoon storm this morning, according to the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center.
By 7am this morning, the storm was centered at 18.9 degrees north latitude and 117.6 degrees east longitude, 630 kilometers northeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands.
The typhoon generated wind gales of level eight, moving at 62-74 kilometers an hour. Within the next 24 hours, it will move northwards at a speed of 15-20 kilometers an hour, reaching the coast of Guangdong in China by tomorrow morning.
The northern parts of the East Sea are facing strong winds while the mid and southern parts, including the waters along Binh Thuan to Ca Mau Province, will face thunderstorms.
In related news, the national weather bureau reports that the sweltering weather conditions prevailing in the northern and central regions yesterday will continue today.
Temperatures will remain high at 35-37 degrees Celsius with some areas reaching over 38 degrees.
The scorching heat caused a forest fire in Pho Cuong Commune of Duc Pho District of the central province of Quang Ngai yesterday.
The fire was caused when a 60-year-old local man, Tran Hung Cuong, lit a fire to clear his ten-hectare eucalyptus forest after harvesting it.
The blaze started at 11am and quickly spread to nearby eucalyptus forests in the same commune. By 3pm, the fire was under control.
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