Typhoon Rammasun entered the East Sea after traversing the central Philippines, becoming the second storm so far this year to impact Vietnam, according to the Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre.

At 10:00 am on July 16, the storm was centred at 14.5 degrees north latitude and 119.8 degrees east longitude, about 850 km east-southeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. It packed maximum sustained wind of 149 kph.

Over the next day, the storm is forecast to move west-northwest to 17.2 degrees north latitude and 115.0 degrees east longitude, some 300 km East of the Hoang Sa archipelago. Its wind velocity may reach 166 kph, with gustiness of up to 221 kph.

In the next 24-48 hours, Rammasun is forecast to move between west-northwest and northwest with no change in its speed. By 10:00 am on July 18, its centre will be at 19.6 degrees north latitude and 110.8 degrees east longitude on China’s Hainan island.

The storm’s wind is gathering strength in the eastern part of the East Sea and the archipelago area and may reach 166 kph in the area near the eye of the storm, resulting rough seas.

The Government has asked flood-prone localities to devise evacuation plans and reinforce resident and public infrastructure in anticipation of the storm.

The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control has sent a note to authorities of coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria – Vung Tau, urging them to make preparations against the storm.

By July 16, nearly 70,600 ships with some 290,770 crewmembers had been notified of the approaching storm.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent diplomatic notes to the Chinese and Philippine embassies and Taipei representative office, requesting the countries and territory to support Vietnamese fishermen in seeking safe shelters and offer relief aid to them when necessary.-VNA