On the evening of September 22, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held an emergency meeting with relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate response plans. Ragasa is moving rapidly and is expected to head directly toward Vietnam’s mainland.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by the night of September 22, Ragasa officially entered the East Sea as the ninth storm of 2025. At 4 p.m. on September 23, the typhoon's wind speeds near the center in the northeastern part of the East Sea reached level 17, with gusts exceeding level 17.

By 4 p.m. on September 24, the storm is expected to be about 170 km east of the Leizhou Peninsula (China), with its intensity slightly weakening to levels 14-15 but still producing gusts above level 17.

By the afternoon of September 25, the storm center is forecast to impact coastal waters from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh, with wind speeds at levels 10-11 and gusts at level 13. Tidal levels at Hon Dau Station (Quang Ninh) are expected to peak at 2.6 meters, with the lowest point around 1.9 meters, posing a high risk of flooding in coastal and downstream areas.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that although forecasts suggest the storm may weaken before landfall, it remains the strongest typhoon ever observed in East Sea history. He warned local authorities not to be complacent, as even a weakening storm could cause torrential rain, flash floods, and severe damage.

Over 54,000 vessels alerted and tracked

The Border Guard Command under the Ministry of National Defense has already informed, tracked, and guided over 54,000 vessels with more than 215,000 workers as of 4 p.m. on September 22. All ships have received warnings, and none are reported to be in dangerous areas.

The Ministry of Construction reported that 874 vessels are currently operating in ports from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa, including 382 sea vessels and 492 inland watercraft.

On the diplomatic front, on September 22, the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent diplomatic notes to regional embassies, requesting that Vietnamese ships be allowed to seek shelter, rescue support, and repair assistance if needed.

The Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention is maintaining strict 24/7 monitoring of storm developments, wind conditions at sea, localized rainfall, reservoirs, and dykes.

In collaboration with Zalo Vietnam, the agency has sent out 7.8 million advisory messages with storm response guidance to residents in high-risk zones.

“This is an extremely powerful typhoon with rapid movement toward the mainland. To effectively respond and minimize flood risks, actions must be taken early and proactively in line with the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 170/CD-TTg dated September 22,” the agency representative stressed.

Vu Diep