Tropical depression moves towards South China Sea

HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN) -- A tropical depression has formed in the South China Sea and is likely to turn into a storm.
According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorology Forecasting, the tropical depression was located in the northeastern territorial waters of Luzon Island (Philippines) on Monday morning.
In the next 24 hours, the tropical depression will move west-northwest at a maximum speed of 10-15 kilometres per hour and enter the northern part of the South China Sea.

Flash floods submerge classes at Nam Nhu 1 Primary School in Dien Bien province’s Nam Po district on Monday.  --Photo VNA

By 1am on Tuesday, the depression will likely turn towards Luzon Island’s northward area with the strongest winds of 40-60 kilometres an hour near the centre. Within the next 48 hours, it will move west-northwest at speed of 20km and might turn into a storm, the fourth one in the South China Sea this year.
On Wednesday morning, the eye of the storm will be 400 kilometres from north-northwest of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago with the maximum wind speed of up to 75 kilometres per hour.
It is forecast that the north and north-central regions are likely to experience heavy rain from Monday until Sunday. Floods might occur on  rivers and streams in the upper area of the Hon River (Thai Binh province) with water levels of up to five metres.
Warnings of flash floods, landslides and flooding have been issued in many mountainous and midland provinces, including Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan and Guang Ninh.
The National Steering Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested the sub-committees of north and north-central regions and relevant ministries and agencies be proactive in response to the tropical depression.
They are asked to monitor the developments of the tropical depression and inform vessel owners and captains about its location and movement to stop them from heading into dangerous areas.
Localities are ordered to manage vessels operating at sea and keep in contact with vessel owners.
The committee required authorities in mountainous provinces to update weather condition for local governments and residents so that they would be proactive in preparing for floods and landslides. Unsafe housing should be reviewed and people in high-risk areas should be evacuated to safety.
Forces should be arranged to control the traffic and equipment should be ready to ensure smooth traffic on main roads when heavy rain occurs.
Localities are also asked to make plans to secure safety for mineral exploitation and reservoirs, especially those affected by earthquakes.
Armed forces units in the localities are requested to be ready to conduct rescues.
Flash floods
Flash floods triggered by prolonged torrential rain in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien over the weekend caused serious damage throughout the locality.
Torrential rain lashed several districts throughout Dien Bien province with rainfall measured at between 30mm and 52mm
Nam Po district was the hardest hit by the floods with damage estimated at more than VNĐ1 billion (US$43,000).
Vang A Thinh, chairman of Nam Nhu Commune’s People’s Committee, said downpours have caused water levels in rivers and streams to rise rapidly. At least four houses were swept away and 128 households at Nam Nhu 1 were isolated.
Nam Nhu 1 Primary School was submerged while many motorbikes, the equipment of teachers and students and local residents’ belongings were swept away.
The flood also damaged embankments and some routes have been interrupted.
Local authorities have mobilised relevant forces to evacuate residents from dangerous areas and assist them in moving their belongings to safety.

(Latest Update August 19, 2020)