​Tropical depression strengthens to storm, heads toward south-central Vietnam

A tropical depression in the East Vietnam Sea has developed into a typhoon as it moves toward Vietnam’s south-central and southern regions.

Tropical storm Damrey is the 12th to hit Vietnam this year, packing winds at 60 to 75km per hour and squalls at up to 100km an hour, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

Damrey was located 380 kilometers east of Song Tu Tay Island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago at 7:00 am on Thursday.

Over the next 24 hours, the typhoon is forecast to travel westward at a velocity of 20km per hour and continue picking up strength.

Damrey will reach 420 kilometers east of the coastline from Binh Dinh to Ninh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam by Friday morning, with wind speeds expected to reach between 75 and 100km an hour.

The storm is predicted to grow stronger by Saturday morning, producing winds at 90 to 115km per hour and gusts at up to 166km an hour.

As the storm combines with a cold spell in the area, strong winds and rough seas will batter the coastline along central and south-central provinces and cities.

Meanwhile, another tropical depression off the coast of southern Vietnam is forecast to weaken into a low-pressure zone on Thursday.

However, rain is still expected in southern, south-central, and central localities.

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