by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
Typhoon Toraji, known locally in the Philippines as Nika, is currently moving west-northwestward over Ifugao province in central Luzon on 11 November.
The typhoon made landfall near Dilasag in Aurora province earlier this week. Its centre was approximately 256 km north of Manila.
Forecasts predict that Typhoon Toraji will continue its northwestward trajectory over western Luzon before entering the South China Sea by early evening on 11 November.
The system is expected to weaken into a tropical storm as it moves across the South China Sea towards southern China between 12-14 November.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued a tropical cyclone bulletin warning of strong winds in the eastern, northern, and north-central regions and rough seas along coastal areas.
The Hong Kong Observatory will also raise its warning level for Typhoon Torajo.
According to local media, the observatory is likely to issue a T3 alert late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday as it expects strong winds and showers over the region in the next few days.
Typhoon Yinxing
In the meantime, another typhoon is impacting several countries in Asia, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
According to local reports, Typhoon Yinxing, known in the Philippines as Marce, was moving southwestward in the northern South China Sea as of 10 November.
Forecasts suggest that Yinxing will weaken into a tropical storm as it moves southwestward off the coast of Hainan Province, China, by 11 November, passing southeast of the island.
The China Meteorological Administration has issued a yellow typhoon warning, predicting heavy rainfall of 2.5-4 cm along the eastern coast of Hainan Province and strong winds over the coasts of Fujian, Hainan, and Guangdong provinces.
Passenger train services across Hainan were suspended from 10-11 November.
Ports in Haikou City expect disruption on 11 November, and train services in Guangdong and Guangzhou will also be disrupted from 8 to 11 November.
Heavy rainfall could lead to flooding in low-lying areas, potential evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides. Business, transport, and utility disruptions, including flight delays and temporary port closures, are also possible.
