Northern midland region asked to brace for flashfloods, landslides

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the night of August 20 to August 23, heavy downpours are expected to hit the northern midland region and the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Hoa Binh. It is expected that the average rainfall will be measured between 50 to 100mm over the course of 24 hours. 

Forecasters said due to the rainfall, there is a high risk of flashfloods along with landslides and flooding hitting lowland areas. The districts expected to be affected include Tan Lac, Lac Son, Lac Thuy, Da Bac, and Cao Phong in Hoa Binh province, the districts of Muong Lat, Quan Son, Lang Chanh, Ba Thuoc, Nhu Xuan, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, Thach Thanh, and Thuong Xuan in Thanh Hoa province, as well as the districts of Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Quy Chau, and Que Phong in the central province of Nghe An.

Water levels in rivers around Thanh Hoa and Nghe An are predictd to rise exponentially in the coming days.

In order to cope with risks of flashfloods and landslides, the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control have instructed Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces to keep a close watch on the weather forecasts and warnings about floods.

In addition, residents and local authorities must be informed in a timely manner to take preventive measures so as minimise losses in human lives and property.

The steering committee has also requested that provinces come up with plans to cope with flashflood and landslides and mobilized all resources to deal with the aftermath of the natural disasters.