HANOI - Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday issued an official dispatch to direct ministries, agencies and localities in central Vietnam to take urgent measures as Typhoon Fengshen approaches.

Fengshen, the 12th storm expected to hit Vietnam this year, is forecast to cause heavy rainfall in the central provinces from Wednesday to Sunday.

The typhoon is also expected to pose high risks of flooding, landslides and flashfloods, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.