A tropical depression could form in the south East Sea Thursday or Friday and two unseasonal storms which have developed in the eastern side of the Philippines are likely to enter the East Sea this week, according to International Weather Forecasting Services’ warning.

Viet Nam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging coastal parts from Quang Ninh to Kien Giang to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to potential tropical depression and unseasonal storms. Focus must be on keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keep local residents timely informed about extreme weather conditions in a bid to keep them safe and protect their properties. In addition, the heed must be paid on helping local residents get ready for such unseasonal weather conditions in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages. Special attention must be given to keeping owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about extreme weather conditions in order to help them take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelters during the bad weather. The focus must be on making the resources available in order to organize timely rescue of any person in distress at sea and provide timely support for those who need it during severe weather.

Unseasonal heavy rains and thunderstorms, accompanied by tornadoes, lightning, and hail have lashed over the parts from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoa and Central Highlands, causing significant damage to individual properties and public infrastructure, and destruction of crops, fishing equipment and marine farms.

Over recent days, the total rainfall amount have been 200m-500mm in common in these areas, and even more than 750mm of rain in some places. Recent days have brought unusually heavy rainfall to these areas, leading to severe flooding and landslide risk.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is asking authorities in affected areas to take all necessary measures to help to limit the damage caused by flooding and also speed up recovery post-flood.

Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue across the parts from Thua Thien -Hue to Khanh Hoa and the eastern side of Central Highlands Sunday evening into Wednesday.

There are also warnings of thunderstorms, lightning strikes, high winds, tornadoes and hail in these areas.

Forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas, and localized flooding alerts are in place in low-lying and riverside areas.

The authorities in the warning areas must continue to take resilience measures to help save lives and reduce the damage to individual houses, public infrastructure and crops. In addition, all necessary steps are needed to move people living in low-lying areas, along rivers and streams and areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides to safe places. Special attention must be given to making the resources available in order to drain rainwater from agricultural fields, low-lying areas, urban areas, most densely populated areas, industrial zones and other areas most at-risk of flooding in an effort to reduce costly damage to crops and property.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Vietnam+ – Translating by H.L