The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced on December 21 that a tropical low pressure system has formed in the eastern waters of the southern region of the Philippines and has strengthened into a new tropical storm (international name Tembin).

The centre said that as of 7am on December 21, the eye of the storm was about 360 km from the eastern coasts of the Philippines’ southern region. Strongest winds near the centre of the storm are estimated at 60-75km per hour.

Over the next 24-48 hours, storm Tembin is forecast to move west south-west at a speed of 20-25km per hour and is likely to gain strength.

At 7 am on December 23, the eye of storm will be about 300 km east of the Philippines’ Palawan Island. Strongest winds near the eye of the storm are estimated to be 75-90 km per hour.

Meanwhile, forecasters said that as of 7am on December 21, the eye of storm Kai-tak - the 15th storm in the East Sea in 2017 - was about 180 km west south-west of Huyen Tran Island.

At 7 am on December 22, the centre of the storm will be about 330 km south of Con Dao Island with strongest winds near the eye of the storm reaching 60-75km per hour.

VOV