Tropical depression strengthens into eighth storm in East Sea

The centre said at 7am August 31, the tropical depression was about 130km to the north-west of the Philippines’ Luzon Island. Strongest wind speeds are expected at 60km per hour.

On September 1, the low pressure is about 580km to the south-east of Hong Kong (China) with the fastest wind speeds of 75km per hour. It is forecast to strengthen into the storm in the next 24 hours.

The centre forecast that, this year’s rainy season will see 13 to 15 tropical storms and depressions in the East Sea. 3- 4 storms will make landfall on the mainland of Vietnam, mostly in the central region.

In its urgent telegram on August 30, the Central Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control asked coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Phu Yen and relevant ministries to brace themselves for the storm.