Vietnam mobilizes strong forces as storm Fengshen moves fast, likely to intensify

The General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army has recently issued an urgent directive to all military units nationwide, instructing them to maintain a strict state of readiness and prepare for coordinated storm response efforts.

Military Regions 3, 4, 5, and 7 have been tasked with working with local authorities to update emergency plans, identify disaster-prone areas, and help evacuate residents from high-risk zones.

The Border Guard Command has been asked to coordinate with coastal provinces to guide vessels to safety, while the Navy and Coast Guard have been directed to remain on standby for potential search and rescue operations at sea and on islands.

The Air Defense–Air Force Service and Corps 18 have been required to promptly prepare aircraft and personnel for rescue flights and the delivery of food and supplies to isolated areas.

Meanwhile, the Signal Corps and Viettel Group have been urged to ensure stable communications and deploy drones to monitor vulnerable areas for early signs of flooding or landslides.

The General Departments of Logistics, Technical Services, and Defense Industry have also been directed to safeguard facilities, ensure resource availability, and provide rescue equipment and materials to help localities recover after the storm.

On Sunday evening, the National Civil Defense Steering Committee issued an urgent dispatch to ministries, agencies, and coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Lam Dong, calling for close monitoring of the storm’s developments and tighter control over vessels heading to sea.

Local authorities were told to promptly notify ship owners and captains of the storm’s position, direction, and movements so they can steer clear of or move out of dangerous areas.

Search and rescue forces and equipment have also been ordered to remain ready for deployment when required.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 10:00 am on Monday, the center of Storm Fengshen was located about 460 kilometers east-northeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Special Zone, with sustained winds of 75–88 kph and gusts of up to 117 kph.

The storm was moving northwest at 20–25 kph and is expected to strengthen further as it approaches the Hoang Sa area.

Fengshen will later turn westward, and by 10:00 am on Tuesday, it is forecast to be about 180 kilometers north of Hoang Sa, moving more slowly at around 15 kph but packing stronger winds of up to 117 kph and gusts reaching 149 kph.

It is then expected to shift southwestward at around 10 kph, remaining northwest of Hoang Sa by Wednesday morning before weakening.

By 10:00 am on Thursday, Fengshen is forecast to make landfall between Da Nang City and Quang Ngai Province as it further weakens into a tropical depression.

Over the following 72 hours, the system is expected to continue moving southwestward and downgrade into a low-pressure area.

Due to Fengshen’s impact, the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea will likely experience winds of up to 117 kph with gusts of 149 kph from Monday morning.

The sea will be extremely rough, with waves rising 3–7 meters high.

All vessels operating in the affected area are advised to watch out for thunderstorms, squalls, strong winds, and high waves.