Viet Nam requests China, Philippines to support fishermen as superstorm approaches Gulf of Tonkin

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang made the above statement at a press briefing on Ha Noi on Thursday.

The Spokesperson also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed diplomatic missions in China and the Philippines to maintain proactive contacts with authorities of these two neighboring countries and to ask for their collaboration in saving fishermen and repairing fishing vessels if needed.

As of 9 a.m. on September 5, the storm's eye was located in the northern East Sea, with winds at levels 15-16 and gusts above level 17. The storm was moving westward at about 10 kilometers per hour.

By 10 a.m., Yagi had strengthened into a level-16 superstorm and is expected to maintain its intensity as it approaches the eastern coast of Hainan Island (China). It is moving at 10-15 km per hour in a west-northwest direction.

The storm will likely pass between Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula before entering the Gulf of Tonkin between the night of September 6 and the morning of September 7.

By 7 a.m. on September 6, the storm is forecasted to be over the northern Gulf of Tonkin, about 190 kilometers east-southeast of Quang Ninh province, with wind speeds at levels 13-14 and gusts reaching level 17.

Yagi is expected to make landfall on September 7, impacting coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh.

The northern East Sea will experience strong winds and rough seas, with winds reaching levels 14-16 near the storm's eye. The Gulf of Tonkin will also see increasing winds from levels 8-9, intensifying to levels 10-12, with severe sea conditions.

Heavy rain is anticipated in the northern and north-central regions from the night of September 6 to the morning of September 9, with rainfall expected to range from 100-300 mm, and some areas seeing over 500 mm./.