The low pressure in south East Sea has been upgraded into a tropical depression, causing rough seas off Vietnam and rains in many southern localities, the first to have occurred during the dry season in Vietnam in the past 20 years, the National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center reported.

Le Duc Tho Street in Go Vap District, HCMC was flooded in a heavy rain caused by the abnormal tropical depression yesterday, Photo: Tuoi Tre

Yesterday evening the depression was reported to lie 360 km northwest of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, causing rough seas in the middle and south of the East Sea, including the sea area between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces. 

The depression also caused heavy rains in many southern provinces and cities, including Bien Hoa, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Ho Chi Minh City, the Southern Hydro-meteorological Station reported. 

The depression, with winds of force 6-7 (45-62 kph) and moving west at 10 kph, is likely to upgrade into a storm with winds of 75-87 kph along with gusts of 88-112 kph, causing showers and thunderstorm, reported the National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center reported.

The depression is an uncommon weather phenomenon as it is the first that has appeared during the dry season in the past 20 years, said Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center.

The expected route of the tropical depression (Photo: Ha Noi Moi)

Yesterday the Central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and the National Search and Rescue Committee instructed all their local units in the coastal region from Quang Ngai to Ca Mau to take all precaution measures necessary to cope with the storm.

The coastal authorities must inform the depression’s developments to all boats at sea so they can avoid the affected areas or leave those areas to seek shelter elsewhere in time, the two agencies said. 

They also requested the ministries of Defense, Transport, and Foreign Affairs to assign their staff to work around the clock to follow the developments of the depression and give support to local authorities when necessary.

Source: Tuoi Tre