Etau, the 12^th storm to hit Viet Nam this year, downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday morning after hitting the south central coast of Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces. Remnants of storm Etau are impacting across central Viet Nam with heavy rain and strong winds.

The tropical depression tracking map (Photo: NCHFM)

After moving over the land of the affected south central localities, the tropical depression would move west at 15 kph before weakening further into a post-tropical low remnant over the Central Highlands, Viet Nam's National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Centre (NCHFM) announced in its latest watches.

By 4.00am on Wednesday, 11 November, the remnants of the storm are expected to make its berth above eastern Cambodia, with the strongest winds dropping significantly to below level 6.

Etau wreaked havocs in terms of infrastructure to the region from Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces.

In Phu Yen Province’s Tuy Hoa City, many houses were submerged in water following heavy rains and some of its parts suffered a power outage on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, during the storm’s rage, hundreds of roofs have been blown away by gusty winds, trees have been uprooted and motorbike drivers tumbled on streets after being bit by gusts of wind in Nha Trang on Tuesday morning.

Fallen trees in Khanh Hoa Province (Photo: TTXVN) during storm Etau's rage

Luckily, no human casualties have been reported so far.

The depression is now on course to bring large-scale massive amounts of rainwater to central regional localities from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai, which were heavily battered by devastating storms and floods last month.

From Tuesday into Thursday, 12 November, many parts of Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces are heavily soaked with the total average rainfall of ranging 80 -300mm.

Likewise, the region from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai are bracing for the rain accumulation of 200- 400mm, even over 500mm in certain parts.

The lesser rain amount hovering at 100-200mm is measured in Central Highlands.

The prolonged torrential rain may be blamed for the uptrend in the rising water level of rivers from Quang Binh – Quang Nam. In Da Nang alone, its Cam Le River’s water level will rise to flood alert levels 1- 2.

Likewise, Vu Gia River will see its water rise to alarm levels 2 - 3, which means they are likely to cause flooding and mudslides in mountainous areas.

Also problematically, landslide warnings have been issued for some mountainous parts of the central localities from Quang Binh and Quang Nam.

A flooded section of To Tan Trung Street, Son Tra District, Da Nang on Tuesday morning

Particularly, Da Nang’s districts, namely Hoa Vang, Lien Chieu and Son Tra may be at high risk of flash floods and landslides. Inundation could bother some certain low-lying and riverside areas citywide.

Last month marked a streak of consecutive disasters as Central Viet Nam was heavily battered by prolonged stretches of ceaseless torrential rains, widespread flooding and landslides in the wake of four storms lining up threatening the region. A total of at least 235 people were left dead or went missing, and almost 390,000 houses were flooded.

By HOANG HIEP – Translated by A.T