Heavy Rains Batter Northern and Central Vietnam, Threatening Infrastructure and Fisheries

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, heavy rains are expected in northern and central Vietnam from September 14 to 15. Specifically, Thanh Hoa province and southern Quang Tri province are forecast to receive 150-300mm of precipitation, with some areas exceeding 400mm. Furthermore, between Nghe An province and northern Quang Tri province, rainfall is estimated at 200-400mm, with some locations potentially exceeding 500mm. In the northern midlands and delta regions, as well as southern parts of Son La, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, and Lao Cai provinces, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms is predicted, with rainfall ranging from 70-150mm, and over 200mm in some areas. The possibility of intense downpours exceeding 100mm per hour has been highlighted, warning of potential flooding in low-lying areas, urban centers, and industrial parks, as well as flash floods in small rivers and landslides on steep slopes. The cause of this heavy rainfall is attributed to a tropical depression weakening into a low-pressure area on the afternoon of September 13. Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to decrease in the southern regions, with scattered showers and thunderstorms likely in the evenings and nights. However, caution is advised regarding flooding due to high tides. At sea, due to the influence of cold air and the low-pressure system, strong northeasterly winds are anticipated in the northern Gulf of Tonkin (including Bach Long Vi island), leading to rough seas. This adverse weather could pose risks of capsizing or damage to vessels such as fishing boats, cargo ships, and tourist boats, as well as to aquaculture cages, ship anchorages, and coastal facilities. In the capital Hanoi, moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast, with the highest temperature around 29 degrees Celsius. Vietnam's remarkable economic growth is accompanied by the challenges of infrastructure development, and such extreme weather events can highlight these issues, potentially impacting primary industries like agriculture and fisheries. The Vietnamese government is thus under pressure to enhance climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. Source: The Saigon Times