Vietnam making preparation for Dianmu storm

Vietnam is making preparation for upcoming Dianmu tropical storm, the third striking the country so far this year.

The storm is said to directly affect Vietnam's northern and central coastal areas from northern Quang Ninh province to central Nghe An province on Friday morning, said the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecastings on Thursday.

Northern coastal areas are urged to prepare for flooding combined with tide of some 3-4 meters high.

From Thursday afternoon to the end of Saturday, torrential rains are expected to sweep through Vietnam's northern and north-central regions, with rainfall of 200-300 millimeters. In some areas, the precipitation can even reach 500 millimeters, said the center.

Floods are forecast at the country's northern Red river and Thai Binh river systems. Meanwhile, flash floods are likely to occur along small rivers and streams. Landslides are warned at northern mountainous provinces, according to the center.

In a related move, at a conference held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, who also heads the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said the storm comes at a dangerous time for northern and north-central localities, as torrential rain over the past five days has caused flash floods in 14 northern mountainous provinces.

Cuong said his ministry will be responsible for directing localities to inspect dykes and water pumping facilities while Electricity of Vietnam handles reservoirs and hydropower plants, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA on Thursday. Endit