Hanoi: Vietnam is hunkering down in preparation for a weakened Typhoon Nesat, evacuating nearly 20,000 people from coastal areas. The hard-hit Philippines is bracing for yet another monster storm building off its coast in a region that's already waterlogged from monsoon flooding.
Vietnam's national weather forecasting centre says Nesat has been downgraded to a tropical storm. It is now packing sustained winds of up to 73 mph (117 kph) and is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon.
Heavy rains are being reported in northern and central areas, and warnings have been issued for flash floods in low-lying areas and for landslides in mountainous regions.
High winds are whipping through the capital of Hanoi as the powerful storm churns off the northern coast.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, September 30, 2011, 12:39