The Da Nang Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defence has issued a warning of flash flood and landslide risk for areas along small rivers and streams. In addition, residents living in low-lying areas, along rivers and streams, along with urban areas are under flood warnings and watches as widespread showers and thunderstorms with scattered moderate to heavy rainfall are likely to continue in Da Nang until Wednesday morning, November 23.

The total rainfall amount will be 30mm to 80mm in common in the city while more than 100mm of rain could fall in some places, the Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting says.

The regional weather service also issues flood warnings for Vu Gia River and other rivers in Da Nang from Monday into Tuesday, November 22 as these rivers could face flood risk with floodwater expected to peak from 2 - 4m at their upstream areas and 0.5 - 1m at their downstream areas. The water level in these rivers is likely to reach its peak to reach alarm level 1 and below.

The national weather service is monitoring a low-pressure area in the East Sea. The system is forecast to move slowly westward over the next 24 hours.

Under these conditions, the open waters of Hoang Sa Islands could experience gusty northeast winds at level 5, and the gusts as high as levels at 7 to 8 and rough sea.

National forecasters also issues a high wind warning for open waters off Da Nang coast as these areas could see northeast winds at levels 4 to 5, and gustiness of levels 6 to 7.

The Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue 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 as well as and hazardous weather at sea in order to minimise losses owing to heavy rain and severe weather events. The focus should be attached to ensuring the safety of the reservoirs, especially Hoa Trung and Dong Nghe, releasing the surplus water and protecting the dams, desilting canals, and facilitating the recharge of ground water besides avert damage due to floods.

The Da Nang Border Guard Command is asked to work with Da Nang Coastal Information Station to keep a close watch on severe weather development, and keep owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about severe 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.

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, Hoa Khanh Nam, Hoa Hiep Bac, and Hoa Hiep Nam wards, all in Lien Chieu District, Thanh Khe District’s Thanh Khe Tay Ward , Hoa Tho Dong and Hoa Phat wards, both in Cam Le District, Hai Chau District’s Hoa Thuan Tay Ward 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 deploying personnel to deeply flooded streets to set up vehicle barriers to stop driving through deep water in order to ensure the safety of road users. Importance is attached to resolutely banning people from travelling or fishing on rivers, low-lying areas, flooded areas, underground passages, flooded bridges, forests, mountains and landslide prone areas.

Special attention must be paid to taking proactive measures to immediately cut off power supply in deeply flooded areas, reinforce electric concrete poles to prevent falling in inclement weather conditions, ensure power supply for flood control pumping stations, and restore power as quickly and as safely as possible to affected areas.

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