A satellite image shows a tropical depression over central maritime regions of Vietnam, October 17, 2023. Photo provided by the National Hydrometeorological Forecast Center.
A tropical depression is moving towards already flooded central Vietnam and could develop into a storm on Wednesday.
The tropical depression was about 160 km southwest of the Paracel Islands around 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Hydrometeorological Forecast Center. Its maximum wind speed was 39 to 61 km/h and it was moving northwest at 5 km/h.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the tropical depression is said to be over maritime areas from Quang Tri to Da Nang, and it may then develop into a storm. It would then move northwest at a speed of 10 km/h.
Rough seas and strong winds are expected at sea. From Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning, heavy rain would be observed in the Quang Tri areas of Quang Nam, as well as in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Ngai. Starting Thursday, eastern parts of northern Vietnam and northern parts of central Vietnam may experience heavy rains, while rains would decrease in central parts of central Vietnam.
Rain and flooding from heavy rains have killed two people and forced more than 7,600 people to be evacuated in Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue in recent days. Two fishing boats sank off the coast of central Vietnam, killing 15 fishermen from Quang Nam. Search and rescue efforts continue.
The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has asked coastal localities from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa to monitor the status of the tropical depression in order to prepare resources when needed.
