Northern Vietnam faces heavy rain, flooding

July 31, 2015 | 19:45

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Northern Vietnam is bracing for torrential rain from July 31 to August 4, likely to bring flooding in many localities.

A house destroyed in Quang Ninh Province by landslide recently

The National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control held an online meeting July 30 on implementing measures to deal with flooding and storms in the northern region.

Hoang Duc Cuong, the director of the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said a number of northeastern provinces, such as Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Bac Giang, have already been hit by torrential rains on July 30 and July 31, causing flash floods and landslides.

Rainfall is expected to measure100-300mm, and up to 400-500mm in some northwestern provinces.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat, urged northern cities and provinces to take measures to reduce risk to residents and continuously update weather information.

Colonel Vu The Chien, the deputy head of the National Committee for Search and Rescue's Office, said some 31,000 soldiers and 860 vehicles had been mobilized for any emergency in northern localities.

Quang Ninh Province has been hardest-hit by floods, landslides and rough seas in recent days, killing at least 17 people, and sinking two fishing boats near Ha Long Bay.

More than 3,500 people have been evacuated in Quang Ninh, with some areas submerged by up to 4m of water.

Thousands of soldiers have been mobilized to help local residents in flooded areas and sites hit by landslides.

Nearly 3,000 houses were flooded, with total losses estimated at VND1trn.

Lang Son Province has reported one person missing during flooding in Chi Lang District and the total estimated loss is around VND11bn.

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