Storm Dianmu causes losses to northern mainland

In the northern province of Quang Ninh, 11 houses collapsed, 11 electricity poles and thousands of trees fell down, while more than 50ha of rice and vegetables were inundated. 

Earlier, nearly 2,000 households with more than 4,700 people were evacuated. 

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the rainfall has injured three people, toppled roofs of 11 houses, damaged many others and blew down around 100 trees. 

The storm abated into a tropical depression after coming to Hanoi. 

At 5pm of August 19, the depression’s centre was at 20.8 degrees north latitude and 105.8 degrees east longtitude in southern part of the Red River Delta. Wind speeds of the depression was about 40-50km per hour. 

It is forecast that the heavy rainfalls will continue on August 20. 

In a recent dispatch, the Health Ministry asked departments and units to ensure enough medical staff and equipment, especially in landslide-prone areas, during the rainy season. 

The General Department of Preventive Medicine asked units to monitor the prevention of epidemics, promptly deal with hotbeds of disease and raise public awareness of surrounding environment hygiene and epidemic prevention.