A low pressure north of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago is expected to cause strong winds, heavy rains and rough seas off south-central provinces from Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa, according to the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre.

The eye of the low pressure front was located east offshore from Quang Nam to Khanh Hoa at 1 PM on Nov. 3 and is set to move westward.

River water levels in provinces from Quang Nam to Phu Yen and in the Central Highland provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum are expected to rise again to alarming levels.

The centre also warned of possible flash floods and landslides in low-land areas in provinces from Quang Nam to Phu Yen and Gia Lai and Kon Tum.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai visited the flood-hit province of Ninh Thuan on Nov. 2 to inspect and guide the implementation of measures to cope with the nautral disaster.

He instructed local authorities to remain alert to possible floods and actively carry out on-site inspections to promptly deal with any possible incidents, while coping with the aftermath of previous floods.

Hai required the province to earmark spending for flood victims following a Government decision to provide complete support.

He asked the Ministry of National Defence to send helicopters to the province to help deliver relief aid to people in isolated areas and evacuate 32 local people caught by floodwaters.

Local authorities proposed the Government provide food and basic necessities, including 20,000 tonnes of rice, for around 30,000 people who had been evacuated. 5 billion VND (255,000 USD) in aid has been allocated to help construct houses for the flood victims, and an additional 90 billion VND (4.59 million USD) to upgrade infrastructure.

The death toll caused by floods in the south-central region, from Phu Yen to Binh Thuan, over recent days increased to 10 while six people remain missing.

Floods have submerged 6,100 houses and destroyed 622 others. Nearly 17,900 hectares of crops have been damaged by floods.

The Vietnam Directorate for Roads has instructed relevant agencies in flood-hit localities to fix road sections damaged by floods, clear road surfaces and assign guards around the clock in dangerous places.

The regional road network has undergone repair and reopened to traffic from Nov. 3, including sections of national highways No 1, 26 and 27./.