Many regions across the country were expecting to see heavy rains from September 13 to 23, with downpours forecast mainly during the night and early morning, the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre said.

Many roads in Ha Giang Province were deeply submerged due to prolonged rain from September 11 to 13.

The centre warned that water levels could rise by two to three metres upstream of the Hong (Red) – Thai Binh river system and waters could reach first warning level on the Chay, Thao, Lo and other rivers.

Flash floods, landslides and floods are forecast in northern mountainous provinces, especially Lai Chau, Son La,Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan.

A cold front is expected to expand in the second half of September.

From September 14 to 17, Ha Noi is forecast to experience showers and thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds.

In response to the situation, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested steering committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in northern provinces and cities and Thanh Hoa Province to closely monitor the situation and keep members of the public informed.

Local administrations have been instructed to regularly report on weather developments and damage to the Central Steering Committee.

In northern mountainous Ha Giang Province, landslides and rocks collapsed the wall of a house in Bắc Quang District on Sunday, killing one person.

According to statistics from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in Ha Giang Province, floods and landslides had hit from September 11 to 13 due to heavy rains, causing damage to property, crops and construction projects, causing losses of over VND1.3 billion (US$56,000).

Le Anh Dung, deputy head of the provincial irrigation sub-department, said the provincial Steering Committee had asked district leaders to urgently overcome the consequences of natural disasters and effectively implement prevention measures to minimise the damage.

Flooding caused by prolonged rains resulted in a landslide with 2,300cu.m of rock falling onto Highway 279 in Muong Ang District, Dien Bien Province, on Sunday morning, blocking traffic.

Local military and police forces were mobilised to remove the debris.

In Vinh Long Province's Long Ho District, 12 houses collapsed and 91 houses and dozens of hectares of fruit trees were damaged by thunderstorms last Friday, causing losses of about VND1.8 billion.

Source: VNS