China faces new typhoon threat as storm approaches

A tropical depression that formed over waters east of the Philippines on Thursday morning is forecast to intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 to 24 hours and make landfall along the coast of southeastern China, according to the National Meteorological Centre.

As of 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, the system was located approximately 930 km east of Manila and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 25 to 30 km per hour, according to Chinese media reports citing the centre.

The storm is expected to shift its track after landfall, turning north by west while gradually weakening in intensity, the agency said.

If confirmed, this would mark the third typhoon to strike China this year, following Typhoon Maysak and Typhoon Bavi.

The National Meteorological Centre said on Wednesday that between two and three typhoons are likely to form over the northwestern Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea over the next 10 days. One of these systems is expected to enter the northern part of the South China Sea around Saturday and could affect southern China.

The agency added that this year’s 12th typhoon will be named Noul.

By Tamilla Hasanova