The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that at 7 p.m., the tropical depression had sustained winds of 49 km/h, level 6, with gusts reaching level 8. It was moving northwest at 10 km/h.

By 7 p.m. tomorrow, the tropical depression is expected to reach level 6-7, with gusts up to level 9, approximately 60 km southeast of Hainan Island (China). By 7 p.m. on 18/8, it is forecast to weaken to level 6, with gusts up to level 8, over the northern area of the Gulf of Tonkin.

International weather agencies have not yet issued their assessments.

Projected path and area of influence of the tropical depression. Photo: NCHMF

Due to the influence of the tropical depression, the western South China Sea (including the Paracel Islands) is experiencing thunderstorms and strong winds of level 6-7, with gusts of 8-9, and waves reaching 2-3.5 m high.

From the morning of 18/8, the northern Gulf of Tonkin will see increasing winds to level 6, gusting to level 8, with waves of 2-3 m. Vessels operating in these hazardous areas are at risk from thunderstorms, squalls, strong winds, and large waves.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development urged coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to An Giang to closely monitor the low-pressure system, which could develop into a tropical depression. The Ministry also instructed provinces to notify vessels in the affected area to steer clear and to prepare rescue resources.

Since the beginning of the year, four typhoons have formed in the South China Sea, two of which impacted Vietnam. The most recent, Typhoon Wipha, made landfall between Hung Yen and Ninh Binh. Although not intense, it brought heavy rainfall, particularly to Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Rainfall totals from 7 p.m. on 20/7 to 7 a.m. on 22/7 reached 487 mm in Sam Son (Thanh Hoa), 390 mm in Muong Long (Nghe An), 338 mm in Phu Le (Ninh Binh), and 205 mm in Da Coc (Hung Yen).

The heavy rains resulted in two fatalities in Nghe An due to flooding and landslides, and five injuries. 687 houses were damaged or lost their roofs. Over 119,000 hectares of rice paddies, primarily in Ninh Binh, were flooded. Many residents in the mountainous regions of Nghe An were evacuated overnight as floodwaters reached over a meter high in their homes.

A month ago, meteorological agencies forecast that by October, the South China Sea would see approximately seven typhoons, with three making landfall.

Gia Chinh