Illustrative photo. Natural disasters have left 409 people dead or missing and caused economic damage worth more than USD 3.50 billion in Vietnam in 2025.
Typhoon Koto moved into the East Sea and at 4 am November 26 its centre was about 540 km east of Song Tu Tay Island, with maximum sustained winds of 74 km/h (level 8), gusting to level 10, heading northwest at 20-25 km/h.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, by 4 am November 27 the typhoon is expected to lie roughly 200 km north-northeast of Song Tu Tay, with winds reaching level 10 and gusts to level 13, and shifting west-northwest at 15-20 km/h.
From 4 am November 28 to 4 am November 29 the storm is forecast to veer west-southwest at 5-10 km/h, with peak winds at level 11 and gusts to level 14.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reports current winds at 65 km/h, expecting a peak of 108 km/h before the system slows and heads towards the south-central coast of Vietnam. The Hong Kong Observatory projects the typhoon will strengthen to 120 km/h on November 28 before turning northward.
Mai Van Khiem, director of the national forecasting centre, said forecasts remain divergent. One scenario sees the typhoon reaching Gia Lai then Lam Dong around November 30-December 1 as a level-8 storm or tropical depression.
Another scenario has it heading north or dissipating at sea, with a 45 per cent probability. It is more likely to bring rainfall less extreme than the deluges of November 16-21.
From November 27-28 the central East Sea could face strong winds of level 11 and gusts to level 14, with sea waves reaching 7-9 metres. Ships operating in those danger zones are at risk.
This marks the 15th storm to enter the East Sea this year. Previous storms including Wutip, Wipha, Kajiki, Nongfa, Ragasa, Bualoi, Matmo, Fengshen and Kalmaegi have struck northern or central Vietnam directly or caused heavy flooding. Natural disasters since the start of the year have left 409 people dead or missing, 727 injured and caused economic damage worth more than USD 3.50 billion.
Meteorologists predict one to two more typhoons or tropical depressions may form over the East Sea in the coming month, with possible impacts on mainland Vietnam.
