Prolonged heavy rain triggered a landslide that has killed three people in northern Quang Ninh province.
The deaths raised safety fears for thousands of residents in the floodand landslide-prone northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Lao Caiand Yen Bai as the wet season approaches.
Seventeenpeople were killed or presumed dead after floods and landslides in HaGiang province in the first seven months of this year. Forty-two houseswere also destroyed.
The province's Xin Man, YenMinh, Bac Quang and Quang Binh districts were particularly prone tofloods and landslides, officials said.
To Thanh Lai,chairman of Yen Thanh Commune People's Committee in Quang Binhdistrict, warned that landslides were expected at numerous locationsalong Highway 279.
Floods and landslides killed 238people in Lao Cai province between 2000 and 2008, swept away 1,200houses and destroyed more than 10,000ha of paddy fields.
Le Thanh Du, the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development deputydirector, said: "Floods and landslides have occurred more frequently andbeen more serious in recent years," adding that thousands of residentswere put at risk annually.
He blamed climate change for the unpredictable weather.
"In previous years, flash floods and landslides were often caused byprolonged heavy rain of between 200-300mm, but this year, floods andlandslides have taken place in areas where the rainfall has measuredjust 8-10mm," he said.
"As a result, localauthorities have been carrying out more checks in high-risk areas toensure response measures are prompt. They have also relocated more than5,000 people from areas prone to flash floods and landslides," Du said.
Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the NationalHydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre, said it was difficult topredict exactly where and when landslides and flash-floods would takeplace.
"The lack of flood-forecasting technology andlimited training hinder our work. Reliable warnings are based on manyfactors, not just on the likelihood of rain," he said.
He said that flash floods and landslides often happened after spellsof drought, particularly in mountainous areas and near river mouths.
"When hearing strange noises and finding that the water level inrivers has dropped suddenly or risen dramatically, people should move tosafe areas," he said.
Hai added that heavy rains were expected in northern mountainous regions in the next few days./.
The deaths raised safety fears for thousands of residents in the floodand landslide-prone northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Lao Caiand Yen Bai as the wet season approaches.
Seventeenpeople were killed or presumed dead after floods and landslides in HaGiang province in the first seven months of this year. Forty-two houseswere also destroyed.
The province's Xin Man, YenMinh, Bac Quang and Quang Binh districts were particularly prone tofloods and landslides, officials said.
To Thanh Lai,chairman of Yen Thanh Commune People's Committee in Quang Binhdistrict, warned that landslides were expected at numerous locationsalong Highway 279.
Floods and landslides killed 238people in Lao Cai province between 2000 and 2008, swept away 1,200houses and destroyed more than 10,000ha of paddy fields.
Le Thanh Du, the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development deputydirector, said: "Floods and landslides have occurred more frequently andbeen more serious in recent years," adding that thousands of residentswere put at risk annually.
He blamed climate change for the unpredictable weather.
"In previous years, flash floods and landslides were often caused byprolonged heavy rain of between 200-300mm, but this year, floods andlandslides have taken place in areas where the rainfall has measuredjust 8-10mm," he said.
"As a result, localauthorities have been carrying out more checks in high-risk areas toensure response measures are prompt. They have also relocated more than5,000 people from areas prone to flash floods and landslides," Du said.
Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the NationalHydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre, said it was difficult topredict exactly where and when landslides and flash-floods would takeplace.
"The lack of flood-forecasting technology andlimited training hinder our work. Reliable warnings are based on manyfactors, not just on the likelihood of rain," he said.
He said that flash floods and landslides often happened after spellsof drought, particularly in mountainous areas and near river mouths.
"When hearing strange noises and finding that the water level inrivers has dropped suddenly or risen dramatically, people should move tosafe areas," he said.
Hai added that heavy rains were expected in northern mountainous regions in the next few days./.
