The PM asked chairmen of the provincial People's Committees from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa to ensure safety for fishermen and ships, protect dykes and urgently strengthen key portions of sea dykes. They should follow the information about Typhoon Prapiroon and prepare for evacuation of people.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been assigned to instruct the National Hydro-Meteorology Centre to closely follow developments of the tropical storm, timely provide information for the Central Steering Board for Storm and Flood Prevention and Control, ministries, branches, localities and people.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue has been asked to cooperate with border guards and relevant agencies to call on ships to go to shelters, and put on alert to timely rescue victims.

The Central Hydro-Meteorological Centre said that by 16 h on Aug. 3, Typhoon Prapiroon was located about 480 km southeast of the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coast.

The typhoon is expected to land Luichow Peninsula, China, early tomorrow and will affect Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong.

A representative of the the Fisheries Ministry's Steering Board for Storm and Flood Prevention, Search and Rescue said that thousands of ships on the East Sea have been on the way home./.