Heavy downpours from March 31 to April 3 have submerged farm produce in central province of Quang Tri’s Hai Lang district. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee forNatural Disaster Prevention and Control has asked authorities in the Centraland Central Highlands to get prepared to respond to heavy rain, whirlwind,flash floods and landslides as well as tropical depressions, storms which mayoccur earlier than normal.
The central region has recorded heavy downpourswith rainfall of 200 - 500mm, even over 750mm in some places, which is abnormalin the dry season and has led to heavy losses in lives, property, andagricultural production, the Office noted in a document sent to thePeople’s Committees of provinces and cities from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoaprovinces.
According to the National Centre forHydro-meteorological Forecasting, the area from ThuaThien-Hue to Khanh Hoa province, and the Central Highlands region will experience more heavy rains from April 3 to 6. Flood is likely to occur on rivers in the areaand there is a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous andlow-lying areas.
In order to minimisedamage, the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for NaturalDisaster Prevention and Control suggested central provinces andcities focus on addressing the consequences in line with Prime Minister’sofficial dispatch on the issue.
Provinces and cities are ordered to keep aclose watch on the rain and flooding situation and provide timely updates tolocal authorities and residents.
The office also requested authorities ofprovinces and cities to send notices to owners of vessels operating at sea sothat they can take measures to assure the safety of humans and property.
The abnormal torrential rains and subsequent flooding in central provinces havekilled two people, injured five, and caused one to go missing, according to theoffice’s report.
Two houses collapsed and 47 others had theirroofs blown off while 229 boats sank and 2,480 rafts of aquatic products havebeen damaged. More than 91,000 hectares of rice and other farm produce havebeen submerged and ruined.
Localities are working to deal with the aftermathand provide immediate support for the affected residents to stabilise theirlives and resume their production, it said./.
