Localities urged to protect crops from torrential rains

Northern and central provinces were hit by torrential rains from June 13 with rainfall from 50-250mm, that have flooded about 9,800ha of plants.  

More big rains and thunderstorms are forecast to blanket the northern and central regions for the next few days due to a tropical low pressure system that has turned into a storm named Son Tinh.

Under the notice, the directorate asked the localities and irrigation companies like Bac Duong, Bac Hung Hai, Song Nhue, Bac Nam Ha and Song Chu to promptly operate irrigation facilities to discharge water from ditches and flooded fields, especially newly-planted rice areas. 

Localities which have not yet cultivated the summer-autumn crop should wait until the end of the downpour, the notice said, urging concerned units to intensify inspections of irrigation facilities, particularly essential reservoirs. 

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that water levels could rise by 2-4 metres upstream the Hong (Red) – Thai Binh river system, and swell by 3-7 metres in upstream rivers from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.

Mountainous areas in the provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh have been put on high alert for flash floods and landslides, with Yen Bai particularly at risk last night, the centre said.

Floods are also forecast in lowland and urban areas in the provinces of Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Hoa Binh and Hanoi, as well as localities from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.