A low-pressure area may develop in the East Vietnam Sea this weekend before strengthening into a tropical depression, affecting the northern and middle parts of the maritime area, including Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, the national weather agency said on Friday.

The system could later leave its impact on the Gulf of Tonkin and the coast along central Vietnam, bringing rain chances to the northern and central regions between July 14 and 16.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that showers and powerful winds are possible in the southern and middle parts of the East Vietnam Sea, the waters from south-central Binh Thuan Province to southern Ca Mau Province during Saturday.

Whirlwinds, gusty winds, and high waves of 1.5-2.5 meters could happen when it rains.

As the poor weather conditions may persist for the next few days, all fishing boats and vessels operating in the said areas could be impacted, the weather center warned.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked authorities of coastal provinces running from northern Quang Ninh Province to south-central Binh Thuan Province to adopt preventive measures against probable natural disasters.

Authorities of these locales have to inform owners of fishing boats and vessels of the weather conditions so that the latter timely arrange their business and production plans to avoid weather-related damage.

The authorities must also examine areas prone to inundation, flash floods, landslides and stay ready for evacuation and rescue operations.

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