Storm Trami heads towards Vietnam

Tropical Storm Trami, which formed off the coast of the Philippines, is expected to enter the East Sea on Thursday, heading towards central Vietnam.

As of Tuesday, the storm was positioned over the sea to the east of central Philippines with maximum wind speeds reaching 74 km per hour, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said. Moving in a northwest direction at a speed of 15-20 kph, Trami is set to maintain its course over the next 24 hours.

By 1 p.m. Wednesday, Trami is expected to be situated over the sea east of Luzon Island, the Philippines, where it will slow down to around 15 kph. The storm will continue its west-northwest trajectory, reaching the eastern coast of Luzon by Thursday afternoon. It is anticipated to pick up speed again to 20 kph and enter the East Sea later on Thursday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts that Trami will intensify, reaching wind speeds of up to 108 kph upon entering the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea. The Hong Kong Observatory echoed the projection, indicating that the typhoon will strengthen initially before gradually losing intensity as it approaches central Vietnam.

In preparation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday instructed coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh to closely monitor Trami's path. The ministry also urged forces to evaluate areas prone to flooding and landslides.

This year, the South China Sea has witnessed five storms. Among them was Typhoon Yagi, making landfall in early September as the strongest storm to hit Vietnam in 30 years. It caused extensive damage and left 344 people dead or missing in the country.

Source : VNExpress