Authorities in Vietnam's coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan are urging captains and crew members of vessels to move to safety, as tropical storm Trami is expected to enter the East Vietnam Sea on Thursday afternoon.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7:00 am on Wednesday, Trami was located on the east coast of the Philippine island of Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 88 kilometers per hour near its center.

The tropical storm was marching northwest at approximately 20 kilometers per hour.

Over the next 24-48 hours, Trami will possibly maintain the northwest direction at a speed of around 15 kilometers per hour and could intensify further, approaching the island of Luzon before entering the East Vietnam Sea.

Storm Trami will be the sixth storm to hit this maritime area this year.

By 7:00 am on Friday, the storm could travel westward at 10-15 kilometers per hour and be centered 650 kilometers northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

By 7:00 on Saturday, Trami may move west-northwest at some 15 kilometers per hour and be 190 kilometers east-northeast of Hoang Sa.

Vu Anh Tuan, deputy head of the national weather agency’s Weather Forecasting Department, said that as Trami passes over Hoang Sa, its intensity could reach level 12 with gusts up to level 15 before moving toward central Vietnamese provinces.

Trami will likely bring widespread downpours to central Vietnam between October 26 and 28.

Tuan advised residents to stay updated on the storm’s progress as late-season storms often have complex developments.

Due to Trami, the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea could experience strong winds of 62-88 kilometers per hour starting Thursday morning.

Areas near the storm’s center may see winds blowing up to 117 kilometers per hour, and waves reaching 4-6 meters.

Vessels operating in these hazardous areas will be possibly affected by thunderstorms, squalls, and high waves.

To stay prepared for the storm, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday afternoon issued an urgent dispatch asking authorities of the coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan to notify vessel owners and captains of the storm's location, path, and developments so they can take precautions and avoid dangerous areas.

The ministry also requested that local authorities prepare forces and resources for rescue and emergency operations if necessary.

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