THE Thai Meteorological Department this evening (June 12) warned travellers to be careful as tropical storm Wutip is approaching China’s Hainan island and Guangdong province with Vietnam Airlines having cancelled and adjusted multiple flights, Thai Rath newspaper, Voice of Vietnam and China Daily said.
At 4 p.m. in Thailand Wutip was racing through South China Sea, centred at approximately 110 kilometres south of Hainan, and likely to hit this island tomorrow or the day after (June 13-14).
After that, it will weaken into a depression and then a strong low-pressure cell.
Travellers heading to these zones were told to check weather conditions before departing.
While the centre of this storm will not reach Thailand, it will strengthen the southwesterly monsoon moving through the country leading to more rain in the eastern part of the Northeast region. Waves in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will also be relatively strong.
Vietnam Airlines has cancelled and adjusted multiple flights due to heavy rain brought by storm Wutip, the first tropical storm of the year, which is currently affecting central Vietnam.
Vietnam’s national flag cancelled 14 flights between Hanoi and Da Nang on June 11 evening and June 12 morning to ensure passenger safety.
Additionally, flights VN7167 and VN7165 from Hanoi to Da Nang were forced to divert to Cam Ranh or return to Hanoi due to poor landing conditions in Da Nang. Seven other flights en route to Da Nang were delayed on standby, triggering a knock-on effect that disrupted 32 other flights by 20 minutes to over an hour.
Bad weather also disrupted operations at Phu Bai Airport in Thua Thien-Hue province, delaying both arrivals and departures.
Meanwhile China’s Hainan island and Guangdong province have temporarily closed scenic areas and adjusted or suspended train schedules on Thursday ahead of the arrival of Wutip.
Wutip is moving northwest and gradually increasing in intensity as it approaches the southern coast of Hainan. It is forecast to make landfall along the coast from Lingshui to Ledong in Hainan on Friday morning, bringing storms and fierce gales.
According to authorities, ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended from 11 a.m. Thursday.
China Railway Guangzhou Group has adjusted or suspended operations of some trains running along Guangdong’s coast.
In Guangzhou, the provincial capital, a white typhoon warning signal was issued after heavy rainfall hit the area on Wednesday and Thursday.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Tropical Storm Wutip sets eyes on China with flooding rains, strong winds. Credit: The Weather Network
Top and Front Page: Heavy rains flood residential neighborhoods along Da Nang’s Me Suot Street. Photo: Vietnamnet.vn
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