LAI CHÂU — Heavy rain that occurred in many places in the northern mountainous province of Lai Châu from 7am to 10am on Tuesday, will help temporarily reduce the intensity of drought and prolonged hot weather.

Lai Châu Province’s hydrometeorological forecasting centre said the average rainfall was measured from 25.2mm at Sìn Hồ meteorological station to 52.4mm at Nậm Xe in the region.

The highest rainfall was at Lai Châu City centre, at approximately 100mm.

Heavy rain caused flooding and traffic jams in several places in the city centre.   

Specifically, in two wards of Đoàn Kết and Quyết Tiến, serious flooding caused problems for approximately 40 local households.

The deepest water levels of one metre has made travel difficult for locals, leading to the mobilisation of police and military forces to help residents carry furniture and belongings out of flooded areas.

Nguyễn Bá Hùng, deputy chairman of Quyết Tiến Ward People’s Committee said the seriously flooded areas were age-old residential quarters with narrow sewer systems that always suffered water-logging after heavy rain.

Rescue forces had to lift the sewer cover up to provide more drainage.

A source from the city People’s Committee said the flooding had subsided by early afternoon.       

The rainy season is coming and as many flood-prone areas are unprepared, the city authorities said they would arrange for workers to monitor the situation around the clock so that adequate precautions could be taken to assist residents.   

The city authorities also said they would co-ordinate with the environmental office to tackle the flood situation.    

Lai Châu Province’s hydrometeorological forecasting centre warned medium and heavy rains would occur in the whole province in the coming months.

It said flash floods and landslides were liable to happen at many areas, so it had established the first natural calamity risk level.

The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting earlier warned north-west mountainous areas of Lai Châu, Điện Biên and Lào Cai provinces can expect medium-and heavy rains.—VNS