Hanoi, Oct. 4 -- Provinces in the northern region are ramping up emergency measures as Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to hit the East Sea this year, continues to strengthen on its way towards the mainland.

Typhoon Matmo, has moved closer to Vietnam's northern coast, prompting the Government to issue urgent directives to ensure safety for people and property.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 2 pm on October 4, the storm's eye was located at 18.4 degrees North latitude and 115.1 degrees East longitude, about 330 km east-northeast of Hoang Sa special zone. Winds near the centre reached level 12 (118-133 km/h), with gusts up to level 15. The storm was moving west-northwest at around 25 km/h and was...