Newly-formed storm Goni to enter East Sea, may hit central Vietnam

Newly-formed storm Goni, developed from a tropical depression near the Philippines, is expected to enter the East Sea in the next few days and may head to central Vietnam, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

At 10:00 am on October 29, the eye of Goni was at 16.6 degrees north latitude and 136.9 degrees east longitude with its maximum winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph), the agency said.

Storm Molave made landfall over central Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, causing torrential downpours and flood. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

It added that Goni is forecast to pass through the Philippines to enter the East Sea and become the tenth storm during this year’s stormy season. The storm is expected to make landfall in Vietnam’s central provinces between Thua Thien- Hue and Phu Yen this weekend.

At a flood response meeting on October 29, Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorology and Forecasting, said Goni is projected to enter the East Sea on Sunday morning and continue gaining strength.

The storm is likely to affect the central region next week, Mr. Lam stressed, adding that when entering the East Sea, the storm will combine with a cold spell and the situation will be complicated.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicted the storm to reach wind speed of 129 kph on Thursday afternoon, while the US Navy forecast the storm would reach maximum wind speed of 220 kph on Sunday.

International weather forecasting agencies have all predicted the storm would enter the East Sea and strike central Vietnam this weekend.

If storm Goni enters the East Sea as forecast, Vietnam would have witnessed five tropical storms and one tropical depression within a month.

On October 28 morning, storm Molave made landfall over central Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, causing torrential downpours, strong winds, and landslides. It was the fourth storm to affect central Vietnam this month, following Linfa, Nangka and Saudel.

As of October 29, storm Molave has killed at least 18 people, including 17 in Quang Nam province in three separate landslides and one in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai who was crushed by a collapsing wall.

Torrential downpours and discharge of water from hydropower dams have caused rivers in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces to swell and severe flooding has been forecast.

The central region had just been hit by prolonged heavy rains, which triggered historic flooding and deadly landslides between October 6 and 25 that caused at least 130 deaths.