HÀ NỘI — Torrential rain is still forecast for northern regions of Việt Nam today, although super typhoon Mangkhut weakened into a tropical low-pressure system and made landfall in China’s Guangxi Province yesterday morning.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said heavy rains with an average rainfall of 40-80 mm would hit mountainous and midland provinces starting midnight on Monday.

At the same time, torrential rain with an average rainfall of up to 100-150mm would lash provinces of Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An, Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Lạng Sơn, Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, and Thái Nguyên.

Hà Nội and other northern areas will see rainfall of only 20-50mm, the centre said.

However, authorities in Hà Nội still organised a meeting yesterday morning to direct relevant agencies to prepare for the tropical low-pressure system.

The meeting was chaired by the chairman of the People’s Committee of the city Nguyễn Đức Chung.

Speaking at the meeting, Chung said typhoon Mangkhut had left serious damage when it churned through Hong Kong and mainland China. It had already weakened but was still predicted to bring heavy rain to northern regions of Việt Nam, including Hà Nội.

Thus, all rescue forces were told to be ready for emergencies to minimise damage to the city, Chung said.

For Đồng Chằm area in Quốc Oai district, where landslides occurred due to land overexploitation in March, Chung asked the district to evacuate local residents to a safe place to avoid any incidents.

Chung also ordered the city’s Construction Department to work with Hà Nội City’s Parks and Greenery One Member Co Ltd to trim trees in the city to protect road users from falling branches.

The city’s Health Department also prepared necessary equipment to support local residents and prevent diseases during and after torrential rains.

In a related move, the forecasting centre also warned that water levels in the Thao, Lô, Kỳ Cùng, Bằng Giang and Thái Bình rivers would rise by between 2-5 metres due to the tropical low-pressure system until Wednesday.

The centre said provinces of Quảng Ninh, Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Hà Giang, Lào Cai and Yên Bái would remain on high alert of landslides and flash floods over the next couple of days. —VNS