The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported on 22/8 that the low-pressure area east of Luzon Island (Philippines) has strengthened into a tropical depression. At 7 a.m., the tropical depression had sustained winds of level 6, gusts reaching level 8, and was moving northwest at 10-15 km/h.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development this morning, Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the tropical depression will enter the East Sea tonight and intensify into a typhoon.

Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, speaking at the meeting on 22/8. Photo: *Gia Chinh*

"Upon entering the East Sea, the typhoon will move quickly, at approximately 20 km/h. On 24/8, when it reaches the Paracel Islands, it could reach level 10-11, with gusts of 13-14, and could strengthen further upon reaching the waters south of the Gulf of Tonkin", Khiem said, predicting landfall on 25/8.

He assessed that with the current scenario, the typhoon's circulation will be extensive, impacting the coasts of northern and north central Vietnam. The coastal area from Nghe An to Quang Tri will bear the brunt of the typhoon's circulation, potentially experiencing strong winds of level 10-11, with gusts reaching 13-14.

The meteorological agency forecasts that from the night of 24/8 until the end of 27/8, the area from Thanh Hoa to Hue will experience very heavy rain with common amounts of 150-300 mm, and over 600 mm in some places.

Forecast path of the tropical depression. Photo: *NCHMF*

Heavy rain will cause rivers from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri to flood, posing a risk of flash floods, landslides, and inundation in low-lying areas, riverbanks, and urban zones. Local authorities are advised to proactively implement flood prevention measures, check on residents in dangerous areas, and ensure the safety of reservoirs and flood control works.

Due to the typhoon's circulation, the northern and central parts of the East Sea (including the Paracel Islands) will experience strong winds from level 6-7 starting tomorrow, later increasing to 8-9. From 24/8, winds will strengthen to level 10-11, with gusts of 13-14, and waves reaching 4-7 meters high. The Thanh Hoa - Da Nang sea area will experience gale-force winds of level 8 on 25/8, with the area near the typhoon's center experiencing level 11-12 winds and gusts of 15.

Hoang Duc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, explained that the typical cycle of typhoon formation, development, and weakening is 7-8 days. However, the approaching typhoon will make landfall only three days after forming, coinciding with its strongest phase.

"Meteorological conditions are also very favorable for the typhoon's development, with no signs of weakening", Cuong said, warning that the heaviest rain will be concentrated in Thanh Hoa - Hue. A slight southward deviation would shift the impact zone to Quang Nam and Da Nang, while a northward deviation would affect Hanoi and Hung Yen.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development addresses typhoon response. Photo: *Gia Chinh*

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep noted the rapid speed of the tropical depression and subsequent typhoon. "People must be proactively evacuated to safe areas. In case of potential isolation, localities need to prepare and store essential food and supplies in key areas", Hiep said, also cautioning about sea travel during the weekend.

Since the beginning of the year, four typhoons have formed in the East Sea, two of which impacted Vietnam. The most recent, Typhoon Wipha, made landfall in Hung Yen - Ninh Binh. Though not powerful, it caused heavy rain, especially in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, resulting in two deaths from flooding and landslides, and five injuries. 687 houses were damaged or had their roofs blown off. Over 119,000 hectares of rice, mainly in Ninh Binh, were flooded. Many households in mountainous Nghe An had to evacuate overnight, with floodwaters reaching a meter high in some homes.

*Gia Chinh*