Hanoi (VNA) - Authorities of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and Khanh Hoaprovinces on November 18 banned fishing vessels from going out to sea as Kirogiis approaching the south central region.

Accordingto the latest report by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting,a tropical depression became a typhoon after entering the eastern part ofVietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago on the morning of August 18. It would mark the14th storm to hit the ​East Sea this year with international nameKirogi.

It isexpected to be around 150 km easterly off the coast from Khanh Hoa to BinhThuan provinces, which are still reeling from devastating typhoon Damreyearlier this month, with winds of force 8-9 by 4:00 on November 19.

Ninh Thuan has 2,651fishing vessels with 16,474 crewmen. Communications have been connected with679 fishing vessels with 5,275 fishermen currently operating at sea while 1,972others are anchoring at wharves and seaports.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Quoc Nam said withlessons learnt from typhoon Damrey, the province will mobilize the entirepolitical system in response efforts. Localities and sectors have designedspecific plans to help local people in coastal and mountainous areas reinforcetheir houses and get ready to move to safer places.

In Khanh Hoa province, there are 240 fishing vessels with 1,550 fishermen onboard are out at sea and they were informed of the movement of the storm inorder to find shelters. Children are off school from 12:00 on November 18,while people living in dangerous, coastal and lowland areas are beingevacuated.

Binh Thuanauthorities are communicating with its fishing vessels operating at sea to callthem to go inshore as there are 93 out of the total 2,322 fishing vesselsstaying in wharves.

Ho Chi Minh City hasalso banned fishing boats, as well as tourist ships and hydrofoils, to operateon rivers.

Authorities of BenTre and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces also issued the same ban.

The central steering committee on November 17 taskedauthorities of the coastal localities with providing frequent weather forecastsand timely updates to captains and vessel owners of the incoming storm and helpthem find safe shelters in such cases. Rescue forces will also need to be onconstant alert to immediately respond to any emergencies.

The central steering committee has ordered authorities of in-land areas toprepare for heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides and other possible scenariosdue to the impact of the tropical depression.

State-run news agencies – Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, and Voice ofVietnam – are asked to increase the frequency and airtime of their weatherupdates.-VNA