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Vietnam's North Faces Rising Rivers Amid Heavy Rains, Evacuation and Infrastructure Concerns Grow
Heavy rainfall on September 16th caused river levels to rise above alert thresholds in several northern Vietnamese provinces, increasing the risk of flooding. Authorities have issued evacuation orders and intensified infrastructure monitoring, but concerns about potential damage escalation persist as weather recovery remains uncertain.
On the afternoon of September 16, river levels in several provinces in northern Vietnam, including Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh, continued to rise due to heavy rainfall. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that heavy rains will persist from the night of September 16 to September 17 in the northern region, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces. Rainfall recorded by 3 PM on September 16 exceeded 90mm in some areas, with the Trung Ha station in Thanh Hoa reporting 155mm and the Thong Thu station in Nghe An reporting 137mm. As a result of the heavy rains, the water level on the Hoang Long River in Ninh Binh province at the Ben De station surpassed the alert level by 0.01m. On the Bui River in Thanh Hoa, the Thach Quang station reported a level 0.95m above the alert level, while the Kim Tan station was 0.39m below it. The Am River at Lang Chanh station in Thanh Hoa was 0.79m above the alert level, and the Chu River at Cua Dat station was 0.20m above it. The Cua Dat dam was discharging at a rate of 2,080 cubic meters per second downstream as of 1 PM on September 16. Meteorological authorities anticipate that the upper-level trough will continue to influence the weather. From the night of September 16 to September 17, moderate to very heavy rainfall, ranging from 50-90mm and locally exceeding 200mm, is expected in Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces. Lạng Sơn, Quảng Ninh, and southern Sơn La provinces are forecast to receive 30-50mm, with localized areas exceeding 90mm. Consequently, river levels on the Boi River (Phu Tho) and Hoang Long River (Ninh Binh) are projected to remain at alert level 2 to 3, or above, throughout the night and into September 17. The lower reaches of the Bui River are expected to continue rising and exceed alert level 3. The lower reaches of the Ma and Chu rivers are also predicted to rise, potentially reaching alert level 1 to 2, or above. The risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as inundation in low-lying areas along rivers and urban centers, is high. In response, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control issued a directive on September 16, urging relevant ministries and the People's Committees of Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa provinces to proactively organize the urgent evacuation of residents from low-lying areas and riverbanks at high risk of deep flooding to safe locations. They were also instructed to conduct patrols and monitoring of dikes, implement flood control measures according to alert levels, and prepare personnel, materials, and equipment for immediate response to any incidents to ensure the safety of the dike system. In Nghe An province, heavy rains have caused temporary closures of several national highways due to flooding of nearly half a meter, with road management units deploying personnel for surveillance. Information Source: The Saigon Times
Original source
The Saigon Times