Vietnam: Tropical Storm Saudel to Miss Landfall, Authorities Urge Vigilance Against Misinformation

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Tropical Storm Saudel (Bão số 5) is currently located in the northeastern part of the northern East Sea and is not expected to affect mainland Vietnam. As of 4 PM on September 2nd, the storm's center was east of Guangdong province, China, with maximum sustained winds of 62-74 km/h (level 8), gusting up to 102 km/h (level 10). Saudel is moving slowly northeast at 5-10 km/h, heading towards the Taiwan Strait. For the next 24 hours, it is forecast to maintain its speed and intensity. By 4 PM on September 3rd, the storm's center is expected to remain east of Guangdong province, maintaining level 8 winds and level 10 gusts. In the night of September 3rd and during September 4th, Saudel may change direction, moving slowly westward and potentially weakening into a tropical depression. By 4 PM on September 4th, the tropical depression is forecast to be near the southeastern coast of Guangdong province, with sustained winds of 50-61 km/h (level 6-7) and gusts up to 88 km/h (level 9), before further weakening into a low-pressure area over the southeastern coastal land of Guangdong. Due to the storm's influence, the northeastern part of the northern East Sea will experience winds of 39-61 km/h (level 6-7) with gusts of 62-88 km/h (level 8-9), and wave heights of 3-5 meters. Near the storm's center, winds will be 62-74 km/h (level 8) with gusts of up to 102 km/h (level 10), and wave heights of 4-6 meters, leading to rough seas. Vessels operating in these dangerous areas are at risk of encountering thunderstorms, tornadoes, strong winds, and large waves. Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed the spread of misinformation on social media platforms like TikTok. This misinformation, presented as edited television news clips, falsely claims that Tropical Storm Saudel is rapidly approaching and intensifying as it nears the coast, suggesting a major threat to the North Central and South Central regions of Vietnam. The department has unequivocally stated that these are fabricated and untrue reports, causing unnecessary public anxiety. In Vietnam, while information control exists under the one-party system, the rapid spread of information via social media is a growing phenomenon. In this context, the dissemination of false information regarding public matters like weather forecasts can lead to widespread confusion among the populace. Authorities are reiterating the importance of relying on accurate information sources and urging the public to remain calm and vigilant. Source: The Saigon Times