Northern Vietnam braces for flash floods and landslides amid heavy rains

Northern Vietnam is experiencing intense rainfall, prompting warnings of flash floods and landslides in five mountainous provinces. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has alerted residents to the potential dangers. Heavy downpours have already impacted areas in the Northwest region, with some weather stations recording over 100 mm of rain in a single night. For instance, Hua Bum in Lai Châu registered 233.4 mm, and Ha Lang in Cao Bằng received 128.4 mm between July 5 and July 6. The forecast for July 6 predicts scattered showers and thunderstorms across the North and North Central regions, with rainfall amounts ranging from 10 to 30 mm, and locally exceeding 70 mm. The Northwest region is expected to see moderate to heavy rain, with some areas potentially receiving over 100 mm. Soil moisture levels in several affected provinces, including Lai Châu, Sơn La, Lào Cai, Cao Bằng, and Quảng Ninh, are nearing or have reached saturation. Authorities caution that these conditions, combined with continued rainfall of 20-50 mm and locally over 80 mm on July 6, significantly increase the risk of flash floods and landslides in numerous communes within these five provinces.