Since early Tuesday morning, Da Nang has received moderate to heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rains. Especially, heavy and concentrated rainfall has occurred in some places for very short period of time.

The water level in the Cu De and Tuy Loan rivers is rising due to torrential rains. 

Leaders of Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Phu Commune People’s Committee coordinated with relevant units to deploy motor vehicles to some sections of National Highway 14G to remove landslide material. Photo: HOANG HIEP

According to Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF), from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Monday, moderate to heavy rains lashed Hoa Vang District. Around 98mm of rain was recorded at Hoa Bac Commune, 84mm at Hoa Son Commune, and 78mm at Hoa Ninh Commune.

The Cu De River has overflowed its banks after heavy downpours, causing deep water move into some low-lying areas in Nam Yen Village, Hoa Bac Commune, as well as causing floods that have left Loc My Village isolated. The water level in the Tuy Loan River is also rising slowly.

According to the weather warning issued by NCHMF, heading into Thursday, November 16, the parts from Quang Tri to Binh Dinh, including Da Nang, will continue to witness heavy rain with localized extremely heavy falls and thunderstorms with rainfall ranging from 150mm to 250mm, and even over 450mm possible in some places.

Thunderstorms can produce strong winds, lightning, hail and tornadoes, the national weather forecasters have warned.

National forecasters have predicted moderate to heavy rain to continue in the parts  from Quang Binh to Phu Yen, including Da Nang, from Thursday through Friday with some areas experiencing very heavy rainfall. During the forecast period, the total rainfall amount is expected to reach 50mm to 100mm in common over these areas, and even over 150mm possible at isolated places.

Forecasters have issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas, and localized flooding alerts are in place in low-lying and urban areas. Residents in the mid-central region, including Da Nang, are advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings to take all the steps to protect themselves and their property during heavy rains.

According to a report released Monday by the Da Nang Steering Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, 18 villages in Hoa Vang District were partially submerged in flood water following heavy rains, in which, 83 houses were flooded. Hoa Bac Commune authorities helped evacuate 29 people from 7 flooded houses in Ta Lang Village to a safe place.

The heavy rainfall has also resulted in erosion to sections of some streets in Da Nang.

Due to high winds at sea, a combined total of 868 fishing vessels, including 407 from Da Nang and 461 from other Vietnamese localities, plus 95 rowing boats and motorboats are moored in shelter of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf.

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 minimize losses owing to heavy rain

Importance must be attached to keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keeping local residents timely informed about severe weather conditions in order to help them protect their property from heavy rains and flooding. In addition, focus must be paid to assisting local residents to prepare for heavy rains in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages.

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 in order to keep owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about severe weather conditions 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.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L