At 13.00, the storm was blowing itself out into Laos, the centre said in its latest weather forecast on September 30.

However, the storm had brought heavy rains and caused serious material losses to central provinces.

Quang Binh was one of the hardest hit provinces in the central region. The storm killed 8 people, including 6 in Bo Trach district, brought down 120 high-voltage electric poles, and destroyed more than 300ha of fruit orchards and subsidiary crops.

In Quang Tri province, high tidal surges sank several fishing boats while strong winds tore the roofs off 50 houses in the island district of Con Co. The communications system was paralysed after the district’s post office was completely flooded. At the Cua Tung estuary, 5 fishing boats sank and five fishermen were reported missing due to tidal surges.

In Ha Tinh province, heavy downpours disrupted traffic on many sections of provincial roads. About 30 fishing boats with 171 people on board were operating offshore the Bach Long Vi islands. According to initial reports, a fishing boat with 6 people on board sank offshore the coast of Nghe An province.

At an urgent meeting in the morning, the Nghe An provincial leaders asked the administrations of mountainous areas to evacuate local residents from low-lying areas to avoid possible flash floods which often occur after the storm makes landfall.