Storm Yutu weakens when entering East Sea

Storm Yutu has weakened as it entered the East Sea on the morning of October 31, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The projected location and movement of Storm Yutu. (Photo: nchmf.gov.vn)
The projected location and movement of Storm Yutu. (Photo: nchmf.gov.vn)

* Localities urged to brace for upcoming super typhoon

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the storm crossed the Philippine island of Luzon to enter the waters of the East Sea, becoming the seventh storm to hit the East Sea this year.

As of 1 pm Wednesday afternoon, its centre was located roughly 560 km northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, packing winds of up to 75-90 km/h.

In the next 24 hours, the typhoon will move north-westward at a speed of 10km per hour. By 1 pm on November 1, the hurricane’s location is expected to be approximately 570 km northeast of Hoang Sa archipelago, with the strongest wind near its eye at 75-90 km/h.

In the next 24-48 hours, Yutu will move northward, travelling at 5-10km per hour. By 1 pm on November 2, its center is forecast around 440 km southwest of Taiwan (China), with the strongest wind from 60-75 km/h.

In the next 48-72 hours, the storm will move north-eastward at a speed of 5-10 km per hour, weakening into a tropical depression. By 1 pm on November 3, the tropical low pressure is expected to be roughly 270 km southwest of Taiwan (China). The strongest wind near the centre of the tropical low pressure is forecast to be from 40-50 km/h.

Due to the influence of a current cold spell strengthening from the north, combined with the storm’s circulation, strong winds and rough seas are forecast for the Gulf of Tonkin from tonight.

To actively respond to Yutu, on late October 30, the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control issued Notice No. 538/TWPCTT-VP to its member units and coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa, as well as the relevant central and local agencies, urging for close monitoring of the storm, while informing means and vessels operating on the sea on the position and direction of the storm to take responsive measures. They were also asked to prepare forces and means for search and rescue upon request.

Also on late Tuesday, the Border Guard Command of the central province of Thanh Hoa announced that the unit has cooperated with the authorities of relevant coastal localities to call on 4,992 vehicles with 20,686 workers on board to seek safe anchorage.