Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai chaired an urgent meeting in Hanoi on September 17 to prepare for a coming storm, the eight of its kind so far this year.

The Deputy PM urged ministries, branches and localities to inform and call upon ships operating in the affected area to hurry back to shore or move away the from the dangerous area, especially 11 ships in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

The Ministries of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, and localities were asked to inspect reservoirs and dykes to ensure their safe operation.

Localities are also required to review measures for flood prevention and control, and stand ready to evacuate people out of dangerous areas.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting, the storm is expected to hit central Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces and the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on September 19.

Meanwhile, the region in central provinces from Nghe An to Khanh Hoa and the northern area of the Central Highlands will have heavy rains.-VNA