Tropical depression strengthens into storm off East Sea

The storm, internationally named Talim, was around 880 km to the east-southeast of China's Leizhou Peninsula at around 1 p.m. Saturday. Its maximum wind speed was between 62-74 kph, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

By 1 p.m. Sunday, the storm is forecast to be on the northern part of the South China Sea, about 570 km to the south-southeast of the Leizhou Peninsula.

By 1 p.m. Monday, the storm would be 200 km to the east of the Leizhou Peninsula. By 1 p.m. Tuesday, the storm would be above the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Over the next 120 hours, the storm would mainly move west-northwest at 10-15 kph and gradually weakening.

Rough seas should be expected in the next 24 hours.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm's maximum wind speed is at over 80 kph, and it would go over the region between China's Haina Island and Leizhou, its maximum wind speed reaching 144 kph. The Hong Kong Observatory said the storm's wind speed would remain at over 140 kph until it gets into Vietnam's land.

The National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention has requested localities from Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam to Phu Yen in the south central coast to monitor the storm's progress, check for sea activities and prepare for future responses.