VietNamNet Bridge – The Central and Central Highlands Flood and Storm Prevention Centre said it was yet to make contact with two fishing vessels off the coast of the Philippines.

Tropical storm Melor lay 570km to the east-northeast of Song Tu Tay Island – in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago of Viet Nam – at 4am today (Thursday). — Photo NCHMF

Meanwhile, tropical storm Melor lay 570km to the east-northeast of Song Tu Tay Island – in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago of Viet Nam – at 4am today (Thursday).

The centre said communication attempts failed when the two vessels from Binh Dinh were 20 or 30 nautical miles off the Philippines.

The centre said 4,459 vessels and more than 32,000 fishermen were still fishing off Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and Hoang Sa (Paracel), while 38,500 vessels had already docked safely at ports.

No damage or deaths in the central provinces have been reported.

Average rainfall of 40mm to 90mm was recorded in Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, while heavy rain of about 160mm and 148mm was recorded in My Chanh and Cua Viet, respectively, in Quang Tri Province.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the tropical storm was expected to weaken into a low pressure area over Truong Sa Islands at about 4am tomorrow (December 18). The area is likely to see 3m to 4m-high waves and strong winds blowing at 40km to 60km per hour.

Source: VNS