Storm No. 4 Weakens, Over 5,800 Households Isolated by Flooding

Tropical Storm No. 4, a rare and slow-moving cyclone that lingered in the Tonkin Gulf for five to six days, has weakened into a tropical depression. It is now heading northeast toward China's Leizhou Peninsula, where it is expected to dissipate.

The storm's prolonged presence and unusual movement pattern over the gulf caused extended heavy rainfall across northern and north-central Vietnam. This led to significant flooding, isolating more than 5,800 households. Lạng Sơn province reported 1,080 isolated households, followed by Bắc Ninh with 2,457, Hà Nội with 338, and Thanh Hóa with 333.

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Tropical Storm No. 4 formed and moved in the Tonkin Gulf from August 21, maintaining an intensity of level 8-9 (gusting level 11) and circling in this area for 5-6 days, which is a very rare phenomenon.

In total, 1,674 homes remained flooded, with Lạng Sơn and Hà Nội experiencing the most significant numbers. Authorities are using small boats to deliver essential supplies to cut-off communities. Road blockages due to flooding and landslides affected 345 points, particularly in Lạng Sơn, which had 218 such points. Power outages impacted 54,659 customers, mainly in Hải Phòng, Lạng Sơn, and Bắc Ninh. Over 3,500 households are still in evacuation centers.

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Tropical Storm No. 4 persisted for a long time in the Tonkin Gulf, so the storm's circulation caused prolonged heavy rain over many days, leading to major floods on rivers in the Northeast and North Central regions in recent days.