Hanoi (VNA) – A tropical depression has strengthened into atropical storm named Etau, the 12th in the East Sea this year, andis moving west towards the central coast of Vietnam.
At 7am on November 9, the storm’s eye was about 450km offshore thecoastline between Binh Dinh and Ninh Thuan provinces, packing wind of up to 75 kmper hour.
It is moving west at around 20km per hour, and is likely to gainstrength.
Etau is forecast to move on land between Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan provinceson early November 11, then weaken into a tropical depression and later a lowpressure system.
Strong wind and rains are expected offshore the coastline from QuangNgai to Ninh Thuan from the night of November 9.
Under the effect of Etau and a cold wave, rainfalls of 200 to 400 mm are forecast for cities andprovinces from Quang Tri to northern Khanh Hoa province. Quang Binh province, localitiessouth of Khanh Hoa and the Central Highlands should expectrainfalls of 100-200mm./.