Flash floods submerge classes at Nậm Nhừ 1 Primary School in Điện Biên Province’s Nậm Pồ District on Monday. —  VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

HÀ NỘI — A tropical depression has formed in the East Sea and is likely to turn into a storm.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorology Forecasting, the tropical depression was located in the northeastern territorial waters of Luzon Island (Philippines) on Monday morning.

In the next 24 hours, the tropical depression will move west-northwest at a maximum speed of 10-15 kilometres per hour and enter the northern part of the East Sea.

By 1am on Tuesday, the depression will likely turn towards Luzon Island’s northward area with the strongest winds of 40-60 kilometres an hour near the centre. Within the next 48 hours, it will move west-northwest at speed of 20km and might turn into a storm, the fourth one in the East Sea this year.

On Wednesday morning, the eye of the storm will be 400 kilometres from north-northwest of the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Archipelago with the maximum wind speed of up to 75 kilometres per hour.

It is forecast that the north and north-central regions are likely to experience heavy rain from Monday until Sunday. Floods might occur on rivers and streams in the upper area of the Hồn River (Thái Bình Province) with water levels of up to 5 metres.

Warnings of flash floods, landslides and flooding have been issued in many mountainous and midland provinces, including Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Sơn La, Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Hà Giang, Thái Nguyên, Bắc Kạn and Quảng Ninh.   

The National Steering Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested the sub-committees of north and north-central regions and relevant ministries and agencies be proactive in response to the tropical depression.

They are asked to monitor the developments of the tropical depression and inform vessel owners and captains about its location and movement to stop them from heading into dangerous areas.

Localities are ordered to manage vessels operating at sea and keep in contact with vessel owners.

The committee required authorities in mountainous provinces to update weather condition for local governments and residents so that they would be proactive in preparing for floods and landslides. Unsafe housing should be reviewed and people in high-risk areas should be evacuated to safety.

Forces should be arranged to control the traffic and equipment should be ready to ensure smooth traffic on main roads when heavy rain occurs.

Localities are also asked to make plans to secure safety for mineral exploitation and reservoirs, especially those affected by earthquakes.

Armed forces units in the localities are requested to be ready to conduct rescues.

Flash floods

Flash floods triggered by prolonged torrential rain in the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên over the weekend caused serious damage throughout the locality.

Torrential rain lashed several districts throughout Điện Biên Province with rainfall measured at between 30mm and 52mm

Nậm Pồ District was the hardest hit by the floods with damage estimated at more than VNĐ1 billion (US$43,000).

Vàng A Thính, chairman of Nậm Nhừ Commune’s People’s Committee, said downpours have caused water levels in rivers and streams to rise rapidly.

At least four houses were swept away and 128 households at Nậm Nhừ 1 were isolated.

Nậm Nhừ 1 Primary School was submerged while many motorbikes, the equipment of teachers and students and local residents’ belongings were swept away.

The flood also damaged embankments and some routes have been interrupted.

Local authorities have mobilised relevant forces to evacuate residents from dangerous areas and assist them in moving their belongings to safety.

The torrential rain also caused damage to the northern province of Quảng Ninh.

At about 5am on Monday morning, a large bamboo cluster collapsed into a house of Phạm Ngọc Thiện who resides in Trần Hưng Đạo Ward, Hạ Long City while his family was sleeping. The incident caused a wall to fall, crushing the bed of the couple and their daughter.

Upon receiving the information, rescue forces arrived at the scene and rushed the family to Quảng Ninh General Hospital for treatment. Thiện was reported to have suffered a broken leg while his wife suffered injuries to multiple organs. Their daughter escaped unscathed.

The torrential rain resulted in serious flooding in Hạ Long City including Hòn Gai, Hà Khẩu and Bãi Cháy wards.

Local workers and police were mobilised to help traffic return to normal on Monday. — VNS