Storm Tembin gains strength, moving towards Ca Mau province

On December 23 night, storm Tembin will pass southern Palawan Island of the Philippines into the East Sea.

Over the next 24 hours, it will move west north-west at a speed of 20-25km per hour and is likely to gain strength.

At 10 am on December 24, the eye of storm will be about 320 km east from Big Truong Sa (Truong Sa Lon) Island of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Strongest wind force near the eye of the storm is estimated to be 90-115 kph, packing winds of up to 14 category.

Over the next 24-48 hours, the storm will likely get stronger as it continues its west track at a speed of 25 kph.

At 10 am on December 25, the centre of Tembin will be around 300-400 km from east of coastal areas of provinces from Ba Ria-Vung Tau to Ca Mau. The strongest winds in the eye wall of the storm are forecast at 100-135 kph.

Over the next 48-72 hours, the storm will be moving west north-west at 20-25 kph.

At a teleconference in Hanoi on the same day, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, also head of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, asked relevant localities to actively brace themselves for the storm in order to minimize human and property losses.

Coastal provinces from Quang Nam to Ca Mau are prepared to cope with  storm Tembin.

He underscored the urgent need to call upon ships to find shelters, evacuate people from dangerous areas, and prepare necessary tools for search and rescue activities.
The Vietnam Television, Radio the Voice of Vietnam and media agencies were also urged to increase coverage of storm developments and disseminate disaster-response skills among the public.