The Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has warned of widespread and isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall over the parts from Thua Thien – Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, from Thursday night into Sunday morning, October 16. Regional forecasters indicate heavy rainfall of 200 mm to 400mm, and even in excess of 500mm at isolated places.

As per the regional weather service, moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorm chance with isolated very heavy falls are very likely over these areas till Sunday morning.

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 over these areas. Therefore, mitigation measures are needed to cope with localised heavy rain which could trigger flooding in low-lying and riverside areas in the coming days.

Floodwaters have yet to recede in much of the La Huong vegetable growing area but some parts will face high risk of re-flooding in the coming days.

At 4:00 pm on Wednesday, discharges from reservoirs of A Vuong, Song Bung 4 and Dak Mi 4 hydropower plants into the downstream of the Vu Gia River increased to more than 1,700m³/s in order to make sure that water levels are lowest at these reservoirs not later than 10:00am on Friday in an effort to cope with heavy rains which could triggered flooding in high-risk areas in line with the direction from the Da Nang Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defence.

The floodwaters have receded in affected areas in Hoa Vang District since Wednesday afternoon. The water level at the upstream of the An Trach Dam on the Yen River could rise again from Thursday as reservoirs of hydropower plants are lowering their water level.

The Da Nang Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defence is urging authorities at local level and relevant units to take appropriate precautionary measures to cope with floods, flash floods, landslides brought by heavy downpours. The focus should be attached to desilting canals and facilitating the recharge of ground water besides avert damage due to floods.

All necessary measures 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. High priority should be given to evacuating people from riverside properties along Yen, Tuy Loan, and Cu De rivers in communes of Hoa Tien, Hoa Khuong, Hoa Bac, Hoa Lien, Hoa Phu, Hoa Phong, and Hoa Son and moutainous areas in Hoa Vang District, Son Tra Peninsula and other high risk areas for flash floods and landslides in line with municipal government-approved plan in an effort to protect the safety of local people during bad weather.

Heed must be paid to keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keep local residents timely informed about severe weather conditions in order to help them protect their property from heavy rains and flooding. In addition, importance must be attached to assisting schools across the city, especially in flood-prone areas, to prepare for heavy rains in an attempt to ensure the safety of their students as well as reduce the risk of possible damages.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L