The National Civil Defense Steering Committee has asked 18 localities in northern Vietnam and the area from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh to urgently implement measures in response to the approaching spell of heavy rain.

At the same time, the Ministry of Public Security’s Civil Defense Command issued an official dispatch requiring police units and local forces to be ready to respond to heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods and landslides.

The 18 provinces and cities ordered to step up preparations are Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Local authorities have been instructed to closely monitor weather forecasts, proactively evacuate residents from dangerous areas and prepare personnel, vehicles, medicines and essential supplies in locations facing high risks.

Authorities must also strictly control the movement of people and vehicles through causeways, spillways and areas affected by deep flooding, fast-flowing water or landslide risks. Where safety cannot be guaranteed, people and vehicles must not be allowed to pass.

Rainfall forecast in detail

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, localized showers and thunderstorms were occurring in mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam on August 16.

From the night of August 17 through August 18, northern Vietnam and areas from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh are forecast to experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with widespread rainfall of 30-60mm and localized totals exceeding 100mm.

Forecasters have warned that particularly intense downpours could deliver more than 100mm of rain within just three hours.

The rain is then expected to continue from the night of August 18 through August 21 across northern Vietnam and from Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri, with widespread totals of 120-250mm and localized rainfall exceeding 350mm.

Lai Chau, Dien Bien, northern Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son and northern Quang Tri are expected to receive 80-170mm during this period, with more than 230mm possible in some locations.

Across the entire rain spell, from the night of August 17 through the end of August 21, northern Vietnam and areas from Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri are forecast to receive a widespread 150-300mm, with localized totals exceeding 450mm.

In Lai Chau, Dien Bien, northern Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son and northern Quang Tri, total rainfall is forecast at 100-200mm, with some locations potentially receiving more than 300mm.

Before the main rain event arrives, mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An are forecast to see scattered showers and thunderstorms during the late afternoon and night of August 16. Rainfall will generally range from 10-30mm, with localized heavy rain exceeding 80mm.

The Central Highlands and southern Vietnam are also forecast to experience scattered showers and thunderstorms during the late afternoon and night of August 16, with rainfall of 15-30mm and localized totals exceeding 60mm.

The weather agency warned that heavy rain could cause flooding in low-lying areas, urban centers and industrial zones. In mountainous areas, on steep slopes and along small rivers and streams, the risk of flash floods and landslides will be high.

Bao Anh