Typhoon Rai to cause heavy rains in central coastal region

Moving path of Typhoon Rai (Photo: National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

Hanoi (VNA) - Typhoon Rai, the ninth storm to hit Vietnam this year, is forecast to cause heavy rain across the area spanning from central Thua Thien – Hue to Khanh Hoa provinces between the evening of December 18 and December 19, with common rainfall of 100-250mm and over 300mm in some places.

Warnings of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and localised flooding in low-lying and riverside areas have been issued by the national weather agency.

According to the National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 1 pm on December 18, the storm's eye was about 650km east-southeast of the Binh Dinh-Khanh Hoa coast, with wind speeds sustaining 150-165km per hour near its centre.

It is forecast to move west northwest at a speed of 20-25km per hour until it reaches the sea area off the coast of Binh Dinh and Khanh Hoa at 1pm on December 19, with the strongest wind speeds near the centre of the storm being at 135-165km per hour.

In the next 48 to 72 hours, the storm will change direction and move to the northeast, traveling 15-20km per hour and weakening into a tropical depression.

From the night of December 18 to December 20, the mainland of Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen are expected to see strong winds.

In response to the storm, Quang Tri has issued its evacuation plan, prioritising evacuating nearly 28,000 people on Con Co island and in four coastal districts of Vinh Linh, Gio Linh, Trieu Phong and Hai Lang.

Meanwhile, facing the impact of bad weather caused by typhoon Rai, Vietnam Airlines decided to cancel flights to and from Quang Nam, Quy Nhon and Tuy Hoa on December 19./.

VNA