According to the Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, super typhoon Haiyan lashed the central parts of the Philippines early today and is forecast to sweep through the central coast provinces of Viet Nam on Sunday. 

The storm, with sustained winds of up to 221kph and stronger gusts near its centre, is expected to be the most powerful storm in Viet Nam in the last 10 years.

By 10am tomorrow, 9 November, the storm’s position should be at latitude 12°9’N and longitude 115°2’E, about 190km north-northeast of Song Tu Tay Island in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. 

Typhoon Haiyan tracking towards the central provinces

Over the following 24 hours, it is expected to continue moving in a westerly or north-westerly direction at a speed of about 35kph.

By 10am on Sunday, it is expected to be positioned in the central provinces at latitude 15°2’N and longitude 108°5’E, just south of Da Nang, and it will then continue to move in a north-westerly direction.

Due to the storm, the Da Nang area and elsewhere along the central coast, will have moderate to heavy rain and strong winds.  People in these coastal areas should be cautious about rising-sea levels in combination with a high tide of up to 4m.