Toraji weakens in Vietnam's waters as two new storms line up for Philippines

Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that Toraji lay centered over the northern waters of the East Sea at 10 a.m. Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 74 kph. The storm is moving westward at 5 kph and is anticipated to shift southwest later on Thursday before weakening into a tropical depression.

International meteorological stations also forecast that Toraji will continue to weaken and dissipate at sea, with unfavorable conditions like low sea surface temperatures, low humidity, and dry, cold air preventing intensification.

Meanwhile, two other storms - Usagi and Manyi - are gaining strength in the Northwest Pacific.

Packing sustained winds up to 180 kph, Super Typhoon Usagi is projected to make landfall on the Philippines’ Luzon Island on Thursday afternoon, marking the fifth storm to impact the country in three weeks.

The Philippines has raised its highest storm alert, evacuating thousands in preparation.

"Typhoons are overlapping," said U.N. Philippines Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez. "As soon as communities attempt to recover, another storm hits, exhausting response capacity and depleting budgets," he told AFP.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Usagi is forecast to move west-northwest over the Philippine Sea, make landfall along the eastern coast on Thursday, pass near or over the Babuyan Islands, and then turn northeast on Saturday toward Taiwan's eastern waters.

After Usagi, Tropical Storm Manyi is expected to approach the population-dense areas around Manila this weekend.

Meteorologists in Japan and Hong Kong predict that Manyi will enter the East Sea around Nov. 17-18.

Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam's East Sea has seen eight storms. Tra Mi, Yinxing, and Toraji arrived in close succession, with Storm Tra Mi striking Thua Thien Hue-Da Nang on Oct. 27, causing heavy rains that resulted in eight fatalities and 14 injuries. Yinxing entered on Nov. 8, followed by Toraji on Tuesday.