Typhoon Tembin heading straight for Taiwan
Thursday, August 23, 2012, 10:50 GMT+7
After striking the northern Philippines, powerful Tropical Storm Tembin is speeding towards China’s Taiwan and will enter the East Sea tomorrow, Vietnam’s National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center has said. The storm is moving west-northwest at 5-10 kph, and at 7 pm today it will lay 130 km east of Taiwan while packing winds of over 132 kph. At noon tomorrow, August 24, the storm will reach the northeast area of the East Sea with winds of up to 117 kph and gusts of 132 kph or higher. Tonight the typhoon’s circulation will cause rough seas and winds varying between 40 and 87 kph in the northeast area of the East Sea. In the area near the typhoon’s eye, winds will be stronger, at 88-117 kph, together with gusts of over 132 kph. The center also reported that another tropical storm, named Bolaven, is moving off the Philippines behind Tembin. Due to interaction between the two systems, Tembin may be weakened or pulled towards Bolaven, potentially creating a very powerful storm. Even if this does not happen, Bolaven is moving the same direction as Tembin and may also enter the East Sea in a few days, the center said.
| HCMC submerged by prolonged downpour A strong storm that dumped 70 mm of rain on Ho Chi Minh City started yesterday afternoon and lasted for well over an hour, flooding many areas of the city. Floodwater caused many vehicles to break down, and many people fell off their motorbikes while driving on streets that were completely submerged. At least 11 streets were seriously inundated with over 0.5 meters of water, including No Trang Long, Nguyen Xi, Bui Huu Nghia, Nguyen Van Qua, and Kha Van Can. Many houses on these streets were also flooded. The heavy rain also submerged a section of National Highway 13 in Thu Duc District, and streets around the Eastern Bus Station area, causing serious congestion. The Center for Moderation of Works Against Flooding blamed the standing water on construction sites that hinder or block the drainage of rainwater. In a recent meeting, HCMC People’s Committee deputy chairman Nguyen Huu Tin asked the city Department of Transport to tackle the problem to avoid flooding, but the situation remains unimproved. |
Serious flooding on National Highway 13 in Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, Thu Duc District, HCMC
Vehicles trying to cross flooded Nguyen Xi Street in Binh Thanh District
