Casualties, missing victims from torrential rains, floods mounts to 63

Floods in Ba Che district of northern Quang Ninh province

According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, as of July 20 afternoon, the northern province of Yen Bai reported three deaths, 11 missing and seven injured cases in Van Chan, Mu Cang Chai, Tran Yen, and Van Yen districts.

More than 2,500 households in Yen Bai have been affected by heavy rains and floods, while 642 houses were seriously damaged, including 79 that were completely ruined. Another 300 families have had to evacuate.

Meanwhile, authorities are on the search for 35 locals in Chau Binh commune, in Quy Chau district of the central province of Nghe An, who went into the jungle to harvest young bamboos but have not returned, losing contact with their families.

Son Tinh storm, the third occurring in the East Sea so far this year, directly devastated provinces from Thai Binh to Quang Binh from July 17-19. Water levels rose in the Red River, Thai Binh River, and Hoang Long River, along with other rivers from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh causing widespread floods.

Leaders of some mountainous localities of Nghe An, which are at high risk of flashfloods and landslides, have rolled out response measures and warned locals.

As of July 19, the storm destroyed 1,000ha of farm land and industrial crops; 60ha of forest; 15,000 tonnes of salt; and 922 hectares of aquatic farms; while also damaging five schools in Nghe An.

According to Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Hoang Duc Cuong, heavy rains will continue covering the northern and northern central regions until July 21. From July 23, extremely heavy rains are forecast in the northeastern region, mostly in Quang Ninh and Lang Son, which will then spread to the whole northern region from July 24-27.

Prompt actions needed to overcome storm consequences

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has asked steering boards for disaster prevention, and search and rescue in northern cities and provinces affected by storm Son Tinh to promptly mobilise forces and facilities to deal with the aftermath.

The steering boards were requested to keep a close watch on post-storm torrential rains and update the situation to all-level authorities and people, helping them brace for flooding, flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

Cities and provinces from Quang Ninh in the north to Ha Tinh in the central region, were asked to continue pumping water out in order to limit losses to newly-cultivated rice areas, as well as setting out recovery plans.

It is necessary to ensure the safety of reservoirs, especially some key ones that are already full of water.

The Electricity of Vietnam was asked to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for pumping stations.

Initial reports by localities showed that as of 11:30am on July 20, torrential rains and floods killed five people, including three in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai and two in the central province of Thanh Hoa; leaving 13 missing in the two localities; and eight others in Nghe An and Yen Bai injured.

Son Tinh, the third tropical storm to enter Vietnam from the East Sea this year, destroyed 21 houses, flooded 827 others in northern and central localities, and forced 365 households to evacuate.

It also swept away and killed 3,964 heads of poultry and livestock, and affected 2,868ha of aquatic area.

According to the Directorate of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of 5pm on July 19, 69,890ha of rice and 12,570ha of crops had been flooded.

Heavy downpours are forecast to last over the next few days.