Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a notice requiring localities from south-central to southern regions, including the Central Highlands, to take measures against another storm, which is now a tropical depression in the East Sea.

In addition, powerful Storm Haiyan in the western part of the Pacific is quickly moving in a west-northwest direction, and is predicted to enter the East Sea on late November 8.

The Prime Minister asked coastal provinces and cities from Da Nang to Ca Mau and Kien Giang to closely watch the developments of the low depression and Storm Haiyan and to promptly inform offshore vessels of their positions.

Coastal localities should issue a ban to keep fishing vessels from going out to sea from November 6.

Checks must be conducted to ensure the safety of dykes and water reservoirs and fish farming equipment while evacuation plans set up and supplies of food and essential goods stocked up.

Mekong Delta provinces should take measures to protect people and property in case of flooding or landslide in coastal areas and river banks.

Relevant ministries and agencies are urged to mobilise forces and stand ready for action.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by 4am on November 6, the tropical depression was about 410km from the coast of Khanh Hoa province, packing maximum winds of between 50 and 61km per hour.

In the next 24 hours, the low pressure is expected to move westwards at between 25 and 30km per hour and to develop into a storm. By 4pm, the storm will be in the waters from Khanh Hoa to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces with a velocity of between 62 and 74km per hour.

The centre forecasts rough sea around the Truong Sa archipelago and offshore of Phu Yen and Ba Ria Vung Tau and in the Gulf of Thailand from November 6 afternoon.

The storm is forecast to bring torrential rain to south-central provinces, the south part of the Central Highlands and the southern region.

The centre also issues a warning of possible rising water levels and tides between 2.5 and 4m high in provinces from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan.

As an effort to minimise effects of the imminent storm, at-risk localities have promptly taken preparatory measures. They have contacted fishing vessels to urge them find shelters, devised plans for evacuation of those residing in and around areas vulnerable to flood and landslide, and checked reservoirs and aquatic farms.-VNA