The La Niña events have brought more rains to Da Nang, and Viet Nam at large, over the past two years. In addition, La Niña conditions have led to massive flooding or localised flooding while tornadoes and lightning associated with thunderstorms have been developed during La Niña, causing loss of life, injury or other health impacts, and property damage. According to national weather service, La Nina conditions prevailing over the country are likely to continue up to the end of the year, the Da Nang authorities are ecourage the public to take precautions against severe and hazardous weather in a bid to mitigate damages.

Da Nang’s rescuers sucessfully saved 6 campers in an area near a stream in Phu Tuc Village, Hoa Phu Commune, Hoa Vang District on the afternoon of July 9 after heavy rain caused a sudden rise in the water level of this stream and fast-flowing water here. Photo: PV

Hazardous weather conditions

Thunderstorms which develop in the summer and the fall bring in cool weather as well as rainwater to cultivated fields but also cause extreme weather events such as floods and lightning. Thunderstorms which produce tornadoes and lightning can appear suddenly and without warning, causing fatalities and property damage. Tornadoes leave a trail of serious damage. Including are tearing off roofs, downing power poles and trees.

Heavy rainfall caused rivers and streams to burst their banks and fast-flowing water in these areas while many people were swept away during flash floods triggerd by strong rains. On May 1, 2022, one student found dead after being swept away by floods triggered by heavy rains while he was camping with his friends near Muong Creek located in Ta Lang village, Hoa Bac commune, Hoa Vang District.

According to the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam is the most prone to thunderstorms in Asia and it is one of the top three most thunderstorm-prone countries in the world. Over the past two years, the country has experienced  more spells of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms accompanied by whirlwinds and lightning due to La Nina compared with previous years. Since the beginning of 2022, a combined total of 145 severe thunderstorm and tornado events have occurred across the country while 110 heavy rainfall events which triggered flooding, flash floods and landslides have lashed localities nationwide. A total of 44 people died in lightning strikes across the country in the first half of 2022.

Most of the recent fatal lightning strikes have occurred in cultivated fields where people were cutting grass or planting rice. In addition, victims were killed following lightning strikes while passing through open areas.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, a forecaster from Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said that people traveling on roads in the inner-city during thunderstorms have a lower risk of of being struck by lightning as high-rise buildings are all equiped with lightning rod systems. Most often, direct strikes occur to victims who are in open areas such as cultivated fields and wet areas. A side flash (also called a side splash) occurs when lightning strikes a taller object near the victim and a portion of the current jumps from taller object to the victim. In essence, the person acts as a “short circuit” for some of energy in the lightning discharge. Lightning is a random act of nature that can strike at any time of the year, most often during summer months, at anywhere in the country, even in rural areas where lightning has never occurred. Mrs Binh, therefore, highlighted the importance of knowing how to avoid getting struck by lightning and to heed specific precautions while you are outdoors during a thunderstorm.

Mr Nguyen Vinh Long, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Center for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation remarked that Da Nang inner city has a  lower risk of of being struck by lightning as many lightning rod systems have been already installed while Hoa Vang District is the most lightning-struck place in Da Nang as there is many empty flat areas in this district. In fact, devastating tornadoes and damaging thunderstorms with lightning have hit Hoa Vang District during past years.

Importance of timely forecasting to proactive response to severe weather events

Thunderstorms which produce tornadoes and lightning are hard-to-predict disasters, but recently, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has issued a warning for this type of disaster within several hours of the occurrence.

Mr Phung Hong Long from the Mid-Central Region Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that warning and watches for thunderstorms with tornadoes and lightning are immediately issued to the Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue in order to keep authorities at local level, relevant agencies and local residents to take mitigation measures in response to natural disaster hazards. The heed is paid to launching lightning safety awareness campaign across all media channels, including social networking. 

The Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue has urged authorities at local level and relevant agencies to take all necessary measures to prevent drowning accidents in high-risk areas such as rivers, creeks, streams, and mountainous areas like Hoa Bac, Hoa Phu, Hoa Ninh communes in Hoa Vang district, Son Tra Peninsula, and Hai Van Pass.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – translating by H.L