Typhoon Rai forces cancellation of multiple flights

Vietnam Airlines said it would cancel 14 flights Sunday between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the central localities. They would be rescheduled depending on weather conditions, a representative of the airline confirmed.

Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air are also deploying plans to adjust their flight schedules.

From Dec. 18 to 21, certain air routes over the sea would experience very strong winds, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Phu Cat, Chu Lai, Da Nang and Phu Bai airports should prepare for strong winds and heavy rains, while central Vietnam and Central Highlands regions gear up for unexpected storm situations, the authority warned.

Rai, the ninth storm to appear in the East Sea, was around 615 kilometers from Binh Dinh and 580 kilometers from Khanh Hoa to the southwest at around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Its maximum wind speed is at 165 kph.

The storm is expected to move west-northwest at 20-25 kph on Saturday and Sunday. At around 7 a.m. Sunday, its eye would be around 220 kilometers to the east of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, the center forecast.