Hanoi (VNA) -Tropical storm Podul is projected to make landfall on a stretch from centralThanh Hoa to Quang Binh provinces at noon on August 30 with heavy rains areexpected in the northern and central regions from August 29 afternoon to September 2.

By 1:00 on August 29,the tropical storm was located to the northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)archipelago, packing winds of 75-90 kilometres per hour, according to theNational Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre.

Podul is movingwestwards at a speed of 20-25 kilometres per hour and is expected to gainfurther strength over the coming days.

The storm, the fourth ofits kind entering the East Sea this year, is forecast to weaken into a tropicaldepression after hitting the mainland on August 31.

In a related move, theCentral Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has askedits sub-committees, relevant ministries and sectors to brace for tropical stormPodul.

Deputy Prime MinisterTrinh Dinh Dung, head of the committee, said the storm would enter the countryduring the National Day holidays so it was necessary for tourists to payattention to weather forecasts.

“These are issues thatministries, branches and localities should pay utmost attention to whiledealing with the storm. We cannot be negligent because there are only two daysleft before the storm landing," Dung said at a meeting held on August 28to discuss measures to cope with the tropical storm in the East Sea.

Minister of Agricultureand Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said areas forecast to have heavy rainwere the northern mountainous provinces, the Red River Delta, the north-centralregion and the Central Highlands. These areas have recently been experienceddamage to soil structure.

If heavy rains continuedto occur in these areas, it was necessary to prepare for flash floods andlandslides, he said.

“These areas have manyreservoirs, including degraded and small hydropower reservoirs, so localitiesmust prepare for possible incidents," said Cuong.

The Border Guard HighCommand said as of August 28 afternoon, the command had provided informationabout the storm’s direction and progress to 70,000 vehicles and 300,000fishermen. However, nearly 800 ships with over 5,000 people were operating indangerous areas.

The same day, theCentral Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control senturgent messages to 13 provinces and cities to make plans the storm.

The concerned ministriesand authorities of the localities in the path of the storm were asked to takenecessary measures to ensure the safety of local residents and theirproperties.

The vessels operating atsea will be informed of the storm so that they can escape or stay away from thedanger zone.

Local authorities wereasked to review and be ready to evacuate residents from areas at high risk offlash floods.

“Over recent years, thedamage caused by floods is much higher after the storm than when it lands, sowe need to be fully prepared to deal with the storm for many days," the DeputyPM said.-VNA