Storm Bolaven has weakened into a tropical pressure system after moving into the waters west of Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on early 4 January, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The expected path of the tropical depression (Photo: NCHMF)

At 4.00am on 4 January, the tropical pressure system’s centre was at 11.7 degrees north latitude and 111.8 degrees east longitude, about 300km from the shore of south central provinces of Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan.

The strongest wind near the system’s centre was about 40-60 km per hour.  

It is forecast to move west in the next 12 hours, and then likely to change direction to west-southwest at a speed of 20 km per hour, further weakening into a low pressure system.

By 4.00pm on 4 January, the low pressure system had been at 11.3 degrees north latitude and 109.3 degrees east longitude, in the waters of provinces from Ninh Thuan southwards to Ben Tre.

Strong rain and wind are forecast for the western area in the middle of the East Sea, including the northwest area of Truong Sa archipelago.

Central Highlands and Southern localities have been directed to take measures to cope with the storm.

They have been asked to monitor the movements of storm, thus warning owners of ships operating offshore, advising them to seek safe harbours.  They were also required to check the safety of dyke systems and infrastructure works in coastal areas.

Last year, a record 16 storms and six tropical depressions formed in the East Sea, of which five storms and three tropical depressions directly hit Viet Nam.

Two of the storms were severe: storm No 10 (Doksuri) struck the north central region in mid-September and storm No12 (Damrey) hit the south central region in November.

Damrey is the heaviest storm in the last 30 years.  After 9 hours raging the south central provinces of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa at 133km per hour, the storm killed 44 people, damaged 114,000 houses in Khanh Hoa Province and caused landslides.

The storm circulation and cold air led to heavy downpours from Thua Thien–Hue to Binh Thuan provinces as well as in the Central Highlands, affecting the lives of 4.3 million people.  The total loss caused by Damrey was estimated at 22,680 billion VND (1 billion USD).

(Source: VNA)