HCMC – Authorities in northern coastal provinces have suspended maritime and riverine activities as Storm Wipha is approaching Vietnam, with the eye of the storm located approximately 220 kilometers east of Quang Ninh and Haiphong as of early July 21.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the storm was positioned over the northern part of China’s Leizhou Peninsula at 7 a.m. on July 21, with maximum sustained winds of 75–88 kph (level 9), gusting up to level 11. The storm is moving west-southwest at 15–20 kph.
Strong winds are expected along the coast from Quang Ninh to Nghe An starting July 21, with wind levels reaching 10–11 and gusting up to level 14 in areas near the storm center.
Rainfall totals from July 21-23 are forecast to range from 200 to 350 mm in northeastern Vietnam, the Red River Delta, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, with some areas potentially receiving over 600 mm.
In response, the Haiphong Civil Defense Command issued a ban on all river and sea activities starting 5 p.m. on July 20. The ban includes offshore fishing, aquaculture, recreational activities, and ferry operations, as well as the Cat Hai–Phu Long cable car service.
In Ninh Binh, vessels have been prohibited from sailing since 7 a.m. on July 21, with ferry operations halted from 5 p.m. the same day. Local forces have been deployed to monitor high-risk areas, including floodplains and landslide-prone zones, and restrict access where necessary.
Nghe An carried out a maritime ban at 5 a.m. on July 21. All fishing vessels were ordered to return and anchor safely by 10 a.m. The province has over 3,400 fishing boats, including 600 operating offshore. As of 5 p.m. on July 20, authorities had directed 574 boats with over 2,960 crew members to safe harbors. Another 211 boats with 870 workers remained at sea but were in communication with authorities.
Thanh Hoa enforced a maritime ban from 8 a.m. on July 21 under Emergency Directive No. 05. The province is home to 6,555 fishing boats and more than 20,500 workers. As of 3 p.m. on July 20, over 6,400 boats with 20,100 crew had reached safe shelters. The remaining vessels were still at sea but had received storm updates and were also in contact with local authorities.
By July 23, the storm is expected to weaken into a tropical depression as it moves over Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, and then further dissipate over northern Laos by July 24.
