The weakening storm Saudel is projected to make landfall in central Vietnam within the next 30 hours, whereas another storm has gained strength and is approaching the East Sea, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

On October 25 morning, Saudel was about 330 kilometers from central Vietnam, already battered by historic flooding, with a maximum wind speed of 90 kilometers per hour (kph). Its maximum wind speed recorded at 7:00 am was 115 kph, the NCHMF said.

Map of typhoon Saudel and hurricane Molave. Photo: NCHMF

Within the next 24 hours, the storm would move west at about 20 kph. By 1:00 pm on Sunday, it was about 180km to the east of central Vietnam from Ha Tinh to Quang Tri provinces, with a maximum wind speed of 75 kph.

Within the next 24 to 36 hours, the storm would maintain its direction at a speed of 15-20 kph. It is projected to make landfall in localities between Ha Tinh and Quang Tri, before weakening into a tropical depression and eventually a low-pressure area.

By 1:00 pm on October 26, the low-pressure area would be above central Laos, with a maximum wind speed of under 40 kph.

As Saudel approaches, rough seas and strong winds should be expected in certain regions of the East Sea. Rainfall of up to 150 mm should be expected in localities from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue between October 24 and 26, the NCHMF warned.

For more than two weeks, central Vietnam, particularly Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue has suffered huge damage from heavy rains and severe floods, as the result of two tropical depressions and two storms since earlier this month.

Currently, the tropical depression in the eastern central Philippines has strengthened into a storm, with the strongest winds of 75 kph. Its international name is Molave. Over the next 24 hours, hurricane Molave would go northwest, about 20kph and continue to grow stronger, the NCHMF said.

The center added that in the next two days, storm Molave is forecast to go westward, with the speed of 20-25 kph, enter the East Sea and gain strength here. This is the ninth storm in the East Sea this year, after Linfa, Nangka, Saudel this month.

As of October 24 morning, at least 123 have lost their lives to floods and landslides in the central region of Vietnam. For more than two weeks the central region has suffered damage described by government officials as the worst in five years.

Vietnam is prone to destructive storms and flooding due to its long coastline. Last year, natural calamities killed 132 people and injured 207 others.