The new storm, named Saudel, is moving west-northwest at 20-25 km per hour and forecast to enter the East Sea on October 21 while gaining strength. By 13:00 on October 21, the storm’s eye will be around 650km to the east-southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, packing wind of 70-90km per hour with gusts of up to 110km per hour.
In a dispatch issued on October 20, the steering committee required localities to closely follow the movement of Saudel and quickly inform vessels operating at sea about the approaching storm so that they can steer clear of the dangerous zones at sea.
Storm Saudel poses a big threat to Vietnam’s central provinces which have already been devastated by historic floods triggered by 30-year record rainfall of up to 3,000 mm in the past 10 days.
The flooding has isolated many communities and affected the lives of more than 135,000 households.
