Viet Nam's National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging Vietnamese coastal localities stretching from Quang Ninh to Ca Mau to prepare for Typhoon Surigae.

The expected track of storm Surigae (Source: Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

The first super typhoon of the season in the West Pacific made a close approach to the Eastern Philippines last weekend.

Typhoon Surigae remained a powerful storm, passing east of the Philippines on Sunday.

According to Viet Nam's National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), at 7am on Monday, the centre of Surigae laid near altitude 14°1’N and longitude 126°3’E altitude, about 270km east off the Eastern Philippines, with maximum sustained wind of level 17 (200- 220kph), near its centre, and a gale of over level 17.

From 7am on Monday into 7am on Tuesday, Surigae will have a high likelihood of travelling in the north - northwestern course at about 10 - 15 kph.

Surigae's maximum sustained wind speed declined to 140 mph (220 kph) on Monday morning. Surigae is no longer a super typhoon but it is still a powerful typhoon, equivalent to a category 4 Atlantic hurricane.

The current track has Surigae slowly weakening as it moves parallel to the central and eastern Philippines over the next 24-36 hours. Based on the closeness of Surigae to eastern sections of the Philippines, a signal 2 alert remains in effect for parts of Luzon, Visayas, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Forecasts have been consistent, keeping Surigae's track from directly making a landfall on the Philippines. It will continue to move parallel to the central and eastern Philippines before turning northward towards southern Japan.

NCHMF warns that Surigae is likely to affect directly the East Sea where many Vietnamese fishing vessels are operating if its track changes.

Viet Nam's National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging Steering Committees for Disaster Mitigation, and Search and Rescue in Vietnamese coastal localities stretching from Quang Ninh to Ca Mau to keep a close eye on Surigae’s track.

In order to well prepare for the new storm, Viet Nam's National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging the authorities of coastal localities to inform their fishing boats of the predicted movement of the storm, hereby allow them to take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelters.

On Monday, there is the possibility of level 6 - 7 gale winds with a gust of level 8, rough seas and sea waves from 2 –4 m high in the North of the East Sea during the day and at night.

Today, central localities strectching from Da Nang to Binh Thuan are expected to see some sunshine with light winds all day but there will be some light scattered shower accompanied by thunderstorms at night for some of their parts, NCHMF said.

Reporting by Bao Tin Tuc – Translating by H.L