Coastal localities from Da Nang to Kien Giang are bracing for heavy rains and other impacts of Storm Hagupit after it entered the East Sea yesterday afternoon.

Fishermen prepare for Storm Hagupit in the central coastal city of Nha Trang. Hagupit is the fifth storm to hit the East Sea this year.

The entry of the 5th tropical storm in the East Sea this year prompted an urgent message on Monday night from Hoang Van Thang, vice chairman of the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control.

He asked all localities to take all needed precautionary steps including informing offshore vessels of the storm's progress, asking them to find safe anchorage spots and mobilising task forces for emergencies.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, more than 32,000 vessels had been informed about the storm, said deputy chief of the committee's Office Vu Xuan Thanh.

He also said that Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan, HCM City, Ben Tre, Ca Mau and Soc Trang had sent their preparedness plans to the office.

The National Centre for Hydro – Meteorological Forecasting said the storm was forecast to weaken a lot before it makes landfall in the south central provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan on Thursday night.

It predicted heavy rains for the south central and southern regions.

As of 4pm yesterday, the eye of the storm was located about 600km east of Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago's Song Tu Tay Island, with 62-74km per hour winds.

The storm is moving west at 20km per hour.