At a meeting in Hanoi on June 11, Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said Wutip is an unusual storm this year as it formed directly over the East Sea, and its direction is shifting frequently, making forecasting and response efforts more challenging.

Currently, he said, the storm has packed winds of 74kph near its centre and is forecast to strengthen further to 102kph, with gusts reaching 133kph on June 13.

According to forecasts, it’s highly likely that the storm will pass over China’s Hainan Island and then turn northeast, moving inland into China. but meteorologists also do not rule out the possibility that the storm will curve west of Hainan Island, enter the eastern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, and then shift direction toward southern China.

As Wutip is churning along the central coast, rain from the storm's circulation will gradually shift from south to north. On June 11, the south-central region is receiving 30 - 80mm of rain, with some areas seeing over 150mm. From June 12 to 13, provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai may experience 100 - 300mm of rain, with isolated spots exceeding 450mm.

Heavy rainfall exceeding 200mm within six hours may lead to flooding, landslides, and flash floods, warned Khiem, adding from June 11 to 14, rivers in Quang Binh to Quang Ngai are likely to experience flooding, with peaks reaching or exceeding Alert level 1.

Due to the storm's unpredictable nature, the Border Guard Command has contacted and warned 53,792 boats carrying over 223,000 fishermen. Of these, 160 vessels are operating in the Northern part of the East Sea. All vessels have duly been notified and are now moving to avoid danger zones or take storm shelters.

At present, the fisheries sector has assessed 192,548 hectares of aquaculture water surface and more than 272,000 fishing cages, as well as nearly 4,000 watchtowers which are at risk of damage.

The sea and river dyke system from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh and reservoir operations in the central, south central, and Central Highlands regions are also being closely inspected.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep requested that coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Quang Ngai, as well as Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces in the Central Highlands, alongside relevant ministries and agencies strictly implement the Prime Minister’s June 10 telegram, in order to minimise human and material losses.

Tropical depression changes course, likely to strengthen into storm today

VOV.VN - A tropical depression that formed in the East Sea on June 10 has changed its direction and is likely to gain its strength into a tropical storm on June 11, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.