LookAtVietnam – Storm No. 8, Koppu, will bring heavy rains to north and central Vietnam. Meanwhile, the ninth storm of the year has appeared off the Philippine coast.

Centre Director Bui Minh Tang said the new storm, called ‘Choiwan’ is at level 9 and it can reach level 12, the highest level, in the next few days.

By the end of September 14, Choiwan will be around 3000 kilometers distant from Storm No. 8, ‘Koppu,’ which took shape on September 13 near Luzon Island of the Philippines. Tang said that on September 15, Choiwan may move nearer to Koppu, creating a complicated storm pattern.

While Choiwan is gathering strength, Koppu is developing complicatedly and moving nearer to Vietnam. At one pm on September 14, Koppu was around 450 kilometers east of China’s Hainan Island. Wind speed at the storm’s eye was at level 10 (89-117km/hour). In the next 24 hours, the storm is likely west-northwest direction at about 15 kilometers per hour.

As it crosses China’s Leizhou peninsula, Koppu is likely to weaken to become a tropical depression and, by 1pm, September 16, the center of the storm is predicted to pass 100km to the north of Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, with winds of about 50 kilometers per hour.

Koppu will bring a rough sea and downpours to coastal provinces from Quang Ninh as far south as Phu Yen. The Central Highlands and the southern region will also have rains.

Cam Quyen