A tropical depression was strengthened into a tropical storm named Linfa in the East Sea early Sunday, and this is sixth storm landfall over Viet Nam this year. Linfa storm warning and watch have been posted for the Vietnamese coastline from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh and the storm is forecast to make landfall in these areas today, 11 October, Viet Nam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned.

The expected track of the storm (Source: The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

At 8.00 am today, 11 October, the storm was located at latitude 15°1’N and longitude 109°3'E, near the coastline from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh, packing sustained wind speeds of levels 6-8, with a gust of level 10 near its centre.

Over the next 6 hours, the storm is predicted to move toward the west at a velocity of 25-30 kph.

National weather forecasters say the fast-moving storm will make landfall in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai at 10 am today with winds gusting at 75 kph before weakening into a depression and moving to Laos.

Weather forecasting centers in Japan and Hong Kong suggested similar developments, saying Linfa would land within today, 11 October, in Central Viet Nam with winds of around 65 kph.

Under the influence of Linfa, the waters off central regional localities from Quang Nam to Phu Yen are experiencing scattered showers accompanied by thunderstorms, strong winds at level 8 with gusts of 10, sea waves from 2 to 4 m high, and very rough seas.

Meanwhile, heavy rains continue to batter Da Nang, and elsewhere in the mid-central region until next Tuesday, amid warnings that most parts of these mid-central regional localities face the risk of devastating flooding.

The amount of rain that falls on Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces ranges from 400mm to 600mm.

Likewise, 300 - 500mm of rain is predicted to be recorded in Quang Tri and Quang Ngai provinces.

Da Nang is bracing for rain of milder intensity, hovering at between 200mm and 400mm.

By HOANG HIEP, KTTVTU – Translated by M.D