Tropical Storm Sonca, the second storm to impact Vietnam in the last week, will make landfall on the central coast later today.
Tuoi Tre reports that Sonca will come ashore somewhere between Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh province between 4pm and 7pm today. It is expected to produce winds of 60-75 kilometers per hour with gusts up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Rough seas are predicted for the northern section of the East Vietnam Sea, and Nghe An province officials have closed local beaches and ordered all ships back to port, VnExpress shares. According to the news source, 127 fishing boats were still offshore on Monday night. Flash floods and landslides are likely in mountainous areas of the region.
Meanwhile Tuoi Tre adds that strong winds and heavy rain will impact the southern coast as well, and Saigon is in line for downpours as Sonca nears the coast.
On July 17, Tropical Storm Talas killed at least eight people and caused VND993 billion (US$45.7 million) in damage after making landfall, in addition to triggering severe flooding in Hanoi and other northern provinces.
[Photo via Weather Underground]
