Storm Bebinca, the fourth of its kind hitting the country this year, will result in downpours in northern and north central regions from the night of August 15 to August 17.

Storm Bebinca, the fourth of its kind hitting the country this year, will result in downpours in northern and north central regions from the night of August 15 to August 17.

Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the rainfalls may be 300-400mm, even 500-600mm in some areas in northern localities and Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

He also warned of risks of flash floods and landslides in the mountainous provinces of Yen Bai, Ha giang, Lai Chau, Son La and Hoa Binh.

The storm, with complicated developments, is forecast to reach China’s Leizhou Peninsula on August 15 night and enter the Tonkin Gulf on early August 16, directly affecting the Vietnamese localities.

Earlier, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response, Search and Rescue issued an official dispatch in response to storm Bebinca.

Accordingly, coastal, island, and sea areas must closely follow the movement of the storm via the mass media, while also providing guidance for and keep close contact with the captains and owners of vessels and cruise boats to ensure the safety of lives and assets.

Mainland areas were also required to promptly alert authorities and people of the storm, actively drain water and prevent flooding in urban and agricultural farming areas, and ensure the safety of dykes, reservoirs, and ongoing works. 

Local residents in low-lying, coastal, and landslide-prone areas must be evacuated to prevent the risk of floods and landslides. 

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting was asked to provide timely forecasting update for relevant units, especially rain volume and flows of Son La and Hoa Binh rivers, as well as prepare forces and vehicles for search and rescue if necessary. 

The Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, Radio the Voice of Vietnam, and press outlets from the central to local levels must raise public awareness of the storm and regularly report to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response, Search and Rescue.-VNA