Northern and Central Vietnam Flood Alert Issued, High Risk of Landslides and Widespread Flooding

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a new flood occurred on rivers in the northern region and Thanh Hoa province on September 15-16. Specifically, the water level on the Boi River (Phu Tho province) is forecast to exceed alert level 3. The Hoang Long River (Ninh Binh province) is expected to reach alert level 2 to alert level 3, while the Bui River and the upper reaches of the Ma and Chu rivers (Thanh Hoa province) will fluctuate between alert level 1 and above alert level 2. Consequently, there is a very high risk of landslides on steep slopes and widespread flooding in low-lying areas along rivers and urban areas. The natural disaster risk level due to floods has been determined as level 1. Vietnam is prone to monsoon influences throughout the year, with the early autumn period being particularly susceptible to heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. In recent years, the impact of climate change has led to an increasing trend in damages caused by extreme weather events. While the government is strengthening disaster prevention measures and infrastructure development, responding to natural disasters remains a significant challenge.