Seventh storm materialises

The tropical Storm Gaemi Tracking Map—Soure: wunderground.com

HA NOI - (VNS) A tropical depression that appeared in the East Sea on Sunday has gained strength and is now classed as a storm, the seventh to appear this year. Wind strengths of about 62-88 kilometres per hour have been recorded.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that at 7pm today, the storm, named Gaemi, is likely to be 350km east south-east of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands this evening.

The centre added that in the next 48-72 hours, it will possibly change direction, moving at about 5km per hour in a south-westernly direction.

This is likely to cause strong wind and rough seas in the eastern area of the Hoang Sa islands.

Since Sunday, the central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Prevention and the National Search and Rescue Committee has been asking provinces from Quang Binh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau to warn fishing boats and take other preventative measures.

Many deep sea fishing vessels have now sought shelter. Head of central Phu Yen Province's Border Army Command, Nguyen Trong Hien, said the command had guided 284 boats carrying nearly 1,900 fishermen to safety.

Last night, nearly 1,000 fishing boats from south central provinces were anchored at Hon Ro Port in central Nha Trang City.

In the island district of Truong Sa, the army has also helped organise fishing boats and provided food and fresh water to fishermen. - VNS