A tropical low pressure in the northern area of the East Sea has strengthened into a new storm named Son Tinh while heading towards the north of Vietnam, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

The location and projected path of the Storm Son Tinh. (Photo: nchmf.gov.vn)

Son Tinh, which will be the third storm to hit Vietnam this year, passed the Luzon Islands of the Philippines as it entered the East Sea this morning, packing winds of 60-75 km/h near its centre.

It is forecast that in the next 24 hours, the typhoon will rapidly move northwestward at a speed of 35 km/h. At 7am on July 18, the storm’s centre will be about 350 km east of the coast line from Hai Phong city to Ha Tinh province, with strongest winds of 60-75 km/h.

As a result of the typhoon, rough seas, heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected in the northern part of the Sea East (including the Paracel Islands). The Gulf of Tonkin will suffer strong winds and high waves of 4-6m from dawn tomorrow morning.

Over the next 24 to 48 hours, the typhoon is forecast to move westward at a speed of about 25-30km/h and will directly affect coastal provinces in the Northeast, the northern delta provinces and localities in the North Central Coast, before weakening into a tropical depression.

Meanwhile, another low pressure area in the southern part of the Gulf of Tonkin has strengthened into a tropical depression while moving slowly southwestward since July 16. It is predicted to approach the coast from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh provinces this afternoon, bringing torrential rains and rough seas to the Gulf of Tonkin.

Due to the impact of the storm and tropical depression, heavy rains are forecast for Hoa Binh province and the North Delta and Northern Central localities. Downpours are likely to extend to the northern mountainous provinces and the north-western region on July 19-20.

The NCHMF also warned of the high risk of landslides and flash floods in mountainous provinces in the northern and central regions, as well as flooding in several urban areas.

Amid the complex development of natural disasters, the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control issued a new dispatch yesterday urging its sub-committees and concerned authorities to notify vessels operating at sea of the location and direction of the storm and tropical depression so that they can move out of dangerous areas, while keeping in touch with ships and boats operating in the affected areas./.

( VNF/NDO )