Hanoi: Authorities of localities in northern and central Vietnam have been urged to make urgent preparations as Storm Wipha, the third tropical storm to hit the East Sea this year, gathers strength and threatens to bring widespread heavy rain and dangerous weather conditions. In an official dispatch issued on July 19, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment called on People’s Committees of provinces and cities in the northern region and along the coast from Quang Ninh to Dak Lak to closely monitor the storm’s developments and be ready in response to it.

According to Vietnam News Agency, Storm Wipha entered the East Sea on the morning of July 19, intensifying into a level-9 storm with wind gusts reaching level 12. It is expected to strengthen further and unleash heavy rainfall across northern provinces in the coming days. On land, the storm’s impact zone is expected to span a wide area, affecting most of northeastern Vietnam, parts of the northwest, and north central provinces. Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and coastal areas of Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa provinces are forecast to be hardest hit by the storm’s full force.