A TROPICAL depression intensified into storm Sonca and is expected to make landfall in Vietnam tomorrow (Oct. 15) with this leading to more rain and strong winds in parts of the already heavily-flooded Northeastern Thailand, Thai Rath newspaper said.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said at 1 p.m. today that Sonca is currently centred at the central South China Sea with maximum sustained winds near the eye at around 65 kilometres an hour.
This tropical storm is moving in a slightly northwestly direction at a speed of 10 km/h and is currently around 640 km away from Buntharik district of Ubon Ratchathani province and will bring heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds to some areas of the Northeast.
The department also said that torrential rain, flash floods, forest runoff and rivers overflowing had so far led to 29 provinces, 163 districts, 980 subdistricts, 6,310 villages and 326,811 households in the Northeast, Central and parts of the Eastern region being inundated, Amarin TV said.
The flooding will likely increase and the department has alerted the provincial authorities to help the flood victims while continuously accelerating drainage to alleviate their suffering.
Nationwide, with the south affected by a monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, mainland Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as the recent impact of Super Typhoon Noru, this has resulted in flooding of 56 provinces, 297 districts, 1,476 subdistricts, 9,165 villages and 394,338 households during Sept. 28-Oct. 14.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A satellite image of Tropical Storm Sonca. Credit: National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and published by Thai Rath
Front Page: Map showing Sonca’s path. Credit Thai Rath
Also read: Parts of Bangkok, Samut Prakan hit by high-tide floods
Academic: Big floods this year, Bangkok to disappear by 2100
Prawit calls Chadchart, sending soldiers to help with city floods
Rush to catch balloon frogs amid the floods in Phayao
One thought on “Tropical storm Sonca heading for Vietnam, dumping more rain on Northeast”