The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and HydroScan Company of Belgium signed a cooperation agreement on the transfer of real-time flood forecast technology for Hanoi’s inner areas. (Photo: National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai, General Director of the Vietnam Meteorology and Hydrological Administration, and Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Paul Jensen attended the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Thai said this is a technical assistance project using ODA funded by the Belgian Government with technical support from the HydroScan Company from 2021 - 2024 to build real-time urban flooding prediction technology for Hanoi’s inner areas. The project aims at assisting Vietnam's meteorological and hydrological sector in effectively monitoring, warning and forecasting urban flooding.

Flood4cast® enables flooding predictions based on real-time rain fall and existing flood map. The technology operates on converting extreme rainfall and linking the most realistic flooding scenarios into corresponding alarm levels. Rainfall is also forecast for the next three hours. Therefore, corresponding future flood scenarios are also mapped during this period.

Forecasting and early warning about flood risks allows authorities to make better decisions and proactively take action in deploying rescue and intervention activities where they are most needed as well as timely notification to people living in high-risk areas.

The proposed areas for the project implementation include 12 districts with a total area of 306.64 km2, of which eight are inner districts - Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay and Hoang Mai, which are the most heavily flooded areas of Hanoi./.

Source: VNA