Typhoon WIPHA strengthens in East Sea

At 7am on July 31, the centre of the typhoon was located at 18.5 degrees north latitude and 113.5 degrees east longitude, approximately 230km north-east of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. The strongest winds at the heart of the typhoon are estimated to be at 60-75 km per hour.

Over the course of the next 24 hours, the typhoon is predicted to move west north-west at a speed of 15 km to 20 km per hour and is likely to strengthen further with a maximum wind speed of 60- 90 km per hour near the eye of the typhoon.

Due to the impact of this weather event, the northern part of the East Sea, including the waters around the Hoang Sa archipelago, will face torrential rains, strong winds, and rough seas.

During the next 48 hours, the typhoon is expected to move west at a speed of 10 km per hour. By 7am on August 2, the centre of the typhoon will be positioned at 21.3 degrees north latitude and 108.0 degrees east longitude in the waters of provinces from Quang Ninh to Hai Phong with strongest winds reaching 75- 90 km per hour near its eye.

The next 72 hours will see the storm head west at a speed of 10 km per hour and make landfall in localities from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh before gradually weakening into a tropical depression.