All coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Phu Yen and mountainous northern provinces have been asked to accelerate emergency preparations as storm Usagi moves closer.

The Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control Prevention on September 21 sent an emergency note to all agencies and provinces. The storm was forecast to reach China’s Guangdong province by 1pm on September 23 and the China-Vietnam border one day later.

Heavy rains in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on the weekend removed roofs from at least 25 houses and caused up to 300 million VND in damages.

In the central province of Nghe An, the bodies of four people swept away and trapped in their car on September 19 were recovered after around 350 rescuers were deployed for the rescue mission.

In Quang Tri province, heavy rains and flash floods wracked up 50 billion VND in damage and many residents found their houses underwater after the Se Pon River level rose in Thuan commune, Huong Hoa district. Local authorities prioritised deploying resources to save lives and repair roads and irrigation projects.

In Dak Lac province in the Central Highlands, flash floods killed at least six people and two others went missing, most of whom were Mong residents ploughing mountainous land and who had not been informed about the flood.

At least 10 people died and 12 others were missing due to floods and rains in the last four days.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked Electricity of Vietnam to ease water levels at hydropower plants in Son La, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Thac Ba and secure all construction works.

Source: VNA