According to Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted over Northern Viet Nam and Thanh Hoa with heavy rainfall likely in some places from Sunday night, August 14.

From August 19 into August 23, the national forecasters have warned that there will be showers with thunder at isolated localtions in the Northern and Mid-central regions, including Da Nang.

Showers with thunderstorms at isolated places during late afternoon and evening hours are also likely over Central Highlands and Southern Viet Nam from August 15 into August 23.

Thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds in the warning areas.

The national weather service has warned that tornadoes and lightning associated with thunderstorms can  occur in the warning areas, causing loss of life, injury or other health impacts, and property damage. Severe thunderstorms could generate tornado threat around the country, meteorologists at the national weather service has said.

The national meteorologists are urging residents in the warning areas to find a safe, enclosed shelter when they hear thunder. People are advised to keep a close watch on the published and broadcast information about severe weather conditions to take precautions against severe and hazardous weather in a bid to mitigate damages.

Data provided by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control showed that as of 6:00pm on August 13, tropical storm Mulan had resulted in 7 people in Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, and Tuyen Quang provinces killed, and 2 others in Lao Cai Province missed while 129 houses in Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang provinces had been damaged and 1,233 ha of rice and vegetable crops in Hoa Binh, Bac Giang, and Phu Tho Province had been destroyed.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging the warning areas, including Da Nang, to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to high winds, tornadoes and hail plus heavy rain which could trigger flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in low-lying and riverside areas in the coming days.

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 to help local residents get ready for such 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. Special attention must be given to 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.

The authorities in the warning areas must 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 TTXVN-Vietnam+ - Translating by H.L