Central Vietnam localities ban vessels ahead of approaching storm

The tropical depression, located about 213 km east of the Paracel Islands as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, is moving westward at around 15 kph, and is forecast to strengthen into a storm. It will be 210 km east-southeast of Quang Tri and 120 km east of Da Nang within the next 48 hours, moving west-southwest at 20 kph towards the Vietnam-Laos border.

It has caused heavy downpours across the region, prompting vessel ban.

Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province has suspended all vessels from ferrying tourists to Cu Lao Cham Island starting Wednesday morning. The ancient town's chairman, Nguyen Van Son, confirmed that preparations for natural disasters are in place, and residents have been instructed to take necessary precautions.

The Quang Nam border guard command reported that 206 fishing vessels with 1,942 workers remain active at sea, with instructions to seek shelter. Rainfall in Quang Nam reached up to 75 mm in some areas , from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. Total rainfall is predicted to reach 400 mm over the next 48 hours.

Its neighbor Da Nang experienced rainfall of up to 100 mm from midnight to 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

The heavy rainfall continued throughout the city, causing flooding on major downtown streets, including Le Duan, Ham Nghi, Nguyen Van Linh and Quang Trung, with water levels reaching up to 30 cm. Traffic came to a standstill in several areas.

According to meteorological agencies, rain is expected to continue in Da Nang until Friday, posing risks of flooding and landslides in low-lying areas.

Le Thi Bich Thuan, director of the Da Nang Department of Education and Training, has issued warnings to schools, urging students and parents to exercise caution in the adverse weather.

As of 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Da Nang recorded 1,097 vessels with 7,699 workers docked. However, 62 vessels with 617 workers were still out at sea, and local authorities are directing them to seek shelter.

Around 660,000 students from kindergartens to high schools in Da Nang and Quang Nam have been allowed to stay home on Thursday.

In Quang Ngai Province, People's Committee chairman Nguyen Hoang Giang prohibited sea vessels from operating starting Wednesday. Local officials have been tasked with closely monitoring the situation, evacuating residents from at-risk areas, and implementing flood prevention measures.

In Thua Thien-Hue Province, while downpours have occurred, flooding has not yet been reported. The heaviest rainfall is expected between Wednesday afternoon and Friday noon, with totals potentially reaching 450 mm, according to the province's hydro-meteorological center. Floods and landslides are a concern for districts like A Luoi, Nam Dong and Phong Dien. Border guards have ordered all vessels to seek shelter, and 1,884 vessels with 10,685 crew members have complied.

Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces are also bracing for heavy rain. In Quang Tri, authorities have called for 2,278 vessels with 5,564 workers to take shelter, while Quang Binh will ban vessels starting at midnight on Thursday.

Previously, impacts from typhoon Yagi, which hit Vietnam on Sept. 7, left 298 people dead and 35 others missing, damaging 300,000 homes and facilities, and flooding 190,000 hectares of rice fields.