Heavy rains cause flooding in the central province of Hà Tĩnh. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Tường

HÀ NỘI — After heavy rain has caused flooding and disruption across much of the country in recent weeks, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on Monday issued a dispatch to ensure localities are ready to respond to any future downpours. 

The dispatch said that due to a cold spell, central provinces and cities from Quảng Bình to Phú Yên experienced heavy rains of 200-400mm in recent days. Some places in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province had rainfall of more than 500mm.

These heavy rains meant rivers-levels reached alarm level two or higher (five is the highest). Flash floods and landslides continue to be a risk in mountainous areas, while flooding still threatens riverside and urban areas.

The steering committee asked provinces, cities and concerned organisations to monitor heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods, and landslides. 

Authorities must inspect and review residential areas along rivers, streams, and low areas to evacuate people to safe places.

Localities must assign forces to control and guide traffic, especially through spillways, deeply flooded areas and fast-flowing water, ensure smooth traffic on main roads when heavy rain occurs and prevent flooding in urban and industrial zones.

Provinces and cities should make sure reservoirs are safe, especially small hydropower ones and critical irrigation ones, and arrange forces to be ready to handle any emergencies.

Office manager of the Thừa Thiên-Huế Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Phan Thanh Hùng, said that the province had fully prepared a system of barriers and signals to control and guide vehicles when necessary.

The committee on Monday sent an order to gradually increase the flow of the Hương Điền hydropower to about 500-1000cu.m per second, starting at 11.30am.

Districts downstream of the Hương Điền hydropower reservoir are strictly prohibited from fishing or any other activities on or near the river.

Phan Duy Anh, deputy chairman of the Hòa Vang District People's Committee in Đà Nẵng City, said that heavy rains from Sunday night to Monday morning flooded many places.

By 10.30am, the water had not yet receded, and damage could not be accurately estimated.

Hòa Vang District guided units to assign workers to be on duty all day and update the flash flood and landslides to inform locals.

Nam Yên, Lộc Mỹ and An Định villages in Hòa Bắc Commune, Hòa Vang District, were isolated due to serious flooding.

Phan Văn Thọ, a resident, said that all of his three fish ponds were destroyed, causing losses of hundreds of millions of đồng (VNĐ100 million equals US$4,190).

"Although we were told it would rain, the water rose so quickly that we couldn't handle it," he said.

The Hòa Vang District on Monday closed many schools, from kindergartens to junior high, to ensure students' safety. — VNS