Moderate to heavy rains triggered by a tropical depression in the East Vietnam Sea are dampening the central, Central Highlands, and southern regions until Wednesday, according to the national weather center.

The national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control on Sunday night issued a telegram asking the relevant ministries and provincial departments in these regions to proactively respond to downpours and the tropical depression.

The tropical depression was spotted around 170 kilometers south of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago at 7:00 pm on Sunday, packing strong winds at 39-49 kilometers per hour.

The tropical depression is forecast to move westward at 10-15 kilometers per hour in the next 24 hours.

It will be about 140 kilometers from Quang Ngai Province and 210 kilometers from Da Nang City in central Vietnam at 7:00 pm on Monday, with winds blowing at levels six and seven, gusting at level nine.

The tropical depression might make landfall in the two localities in the next 24-48 hours.

Due to the impact of the tropical depression, the central, Central Highlands, and southern regions are experiencing torrential rains, coupled with thunderstorms.

Rainfall of up to 350 millimeters is forecast to batter the central region, while the Central Highlands and southern regions are facing a rain volume of up to 200 millimeters. 

The national steering committee urged the localities from Quang Binh to Phu Yen to control fishing boats and cruise ships to minimize damage caused by the tropical depression and downpours.

These localities were also asked to inform the owners and captains of boats and vessels operating at sea of the movements of the tropical depression to avoid its danger and impact.

The provincial and municipal administrations in the region were told to ban residents and tourists from swimming at sea during the period, and mobilize task forces to enhance rescue efforts.

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