With maximum winds of 49 kph, the tropical depression from the central Philippines has entered the East Sea. It is likely to get stronger and bring widespread rains to Vietnam’s northern and north-central provinces in a few days to come, the Vietnam National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center warned.   At 1 am on July 30, the depression was centered at 14.8 degrees latitude north, 119.2 degrees longitude east, about 790 km east-southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. In areas near the the depression’s eye, the wind force was 39-49 kph with gusts measuring 62-75 kph. The depression is moving west-northwest at 15 kph and at noon today, it will be located about 590 km east of Hoang Sa and may get stronger. At 1 am July 31 it will be situated around 430 km east of the islands, with maximum winds of 61 kph and gusts of 75-87 kph. The depression will cause rough seas and winds of up to 62 kph and gusts of 87 kph to the northern and middle areas of the East Sea. Showers and thunderstorms will affect this area. In combination with strong seasonal southwest winds, the depression will also cause rough seas in the middle and southern areas of the East Sea, including the sea of Truong Sa (Spratly), and in the region between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces, with winds of 39 kph and gusts of 62 kph. Thunderstorms and whirlwinds will occur in the sea areas. Yesterday the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Search and Rescue issued a message to local authorities from northern Quang Ninh to southern Ca Mau Provinces and concerned agencies, asking them to make plans to cope with the depression’s impact. Coastal localities must keep all boats at sea well informed of the depression’s movements so that they do not enter dangerous areas and can escape the depression in time.