Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung speaks at the conference on response to floods in central provinces (Photo: VGP)

Addressing a conference in Hanoi on Wednesday, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that imminent tropical storm Saudel, the eighth to have formed in the East Sea this year, is forecast to have a devastating impact on the region.

The storm is moving about 680km from Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting on Wednesday morning. Storm Saudel is predicted to bring rain to Vietnam’s mainland from Saturday night to Sunday.

Storm Saudel is heading toward Vietnam's mainland

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, has asked the Border Guard High Command to coordinate with the Directorate of Fisheries and localities to keep a close eye on the development of the storm to keep vessels at sea informed.

Localities forecast to be hit should prepare suitable response plans, focusing on evacuating people from risky areas, Mr. Dung said.

He asked that special attention be given to the safety of dams and reservoirs as well as traffic safety and order, along with measures to protect agricultural production and tourism activities and prevent environmental pollution and the spread of COVID-19.