Northern Vietnam Spared as Tropical Depression Moves Eastward; Typhoon Dolphin Intensifies Towards China

A tropical depression that had been approaching the Gulf of Tonkin will not make landfall in Vietnam and is expected to head towards the East Sea, according to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. As of the morning of August 8, the center of the tropical depression was located over the waters east of the Gulf of Tonkin, with maximum sustained winds of force 6 (39-49 km/h) and gusts up to force 8. The depression is forecast to pass over China's Hainan Island and weaken into a low-pressure area east of the island. The tropical depression is unlikely to intensify into a typhoon and is not expected to cause direct damage to Vietnam. However, strong winds, high waves, thunderstorms, and gusts that could endanger maritime activities are anticipated in the Gulf of Tonkin and a broad area of the East Sea, including the Paracel Islands. Specifically, the Gulf of Tonkin is expected to experience winds of force 6, gusts up to force 8, and wave heights of 1.5-2.5 meters, leading to rough seas. In the northern and central East Sea, winds are predicted to reach force 6, sometimes force 7 with gusts up to force 8, and wave heights of 2-4 meters, also resulting in rough seas. Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin has intensified. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as of the morning of August 8, Typhoon Dolphin was located approximately 500 km east of its predicted landfall point in China's Zhejiang Province. Maximum sustained winds near the center have reached force 14 (157 km/h) with gusts up to force 17, indicating an increase in intensity compared to the previous day. The typhoon is forecast to move west to west-northwest at a speed of about 10-15 km/h, with its intensity expected to remain largely unchanged. It is highly likely to make landfall in the Wenzhou City area of Zhejiang Province between the night of August 9 and the early morning of August 10. Under Vietnam's one-party system, responses to natural disasters are typically government-led and implemented swiftly. For Vietnam, a country experiencing continuous economic growth, the impact on infrastructure and damages to the fishing and maritime industries are significant considerations. In its relations with China, this situation underscores the importance of joint disaster prevention cooperation at sea.