Heavy rain likely to hit flooded provinces

North-central provinces are still under water a week after devastating floods claimed dozens of lives in the area, with another typhoon expected to hit the East Sea early next week.

The Central Hydro-Meteorological Agency said heavy downpours would continue for the next three days, threatening to dramatically increase river water levels from Nghe An to Quang Ngai provinces and pose a risk of flash flooding from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien-Hue.

Warnings of possible flash floods and landslide have been issued for downstream areas in provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Nam.

Torrential rain has inundated Nghe An Province's capital, Vinh, and neighbouring provinces over the last two days.

Successive floods have destroyed newly sown winter crops of corn, peanuts and vegetables in the region.

Meanwhile, meteorologists warned that a typhoon was taking shape in the Pacific Ocean and was expected to hit the East Sea next week.

"Megi", which means catfish in Korean, would generate wind speeds of 150kph and was moving at 20kph from west to north-west, forecasters said.

The Central Storm and Flood Prevention Steering Committee and the National Search and Rescue Centre sent an urgent despatch to central provinces and warned the ministries of Transport, Defence, Public Security, and Industry and Trade to be on high alert.

The Ministry of Health provided central provinces reeling from the effects of the last inundation with medicine and water-purification tablets.

A delegation from Ha Noi last week visited Quang Binh, the worst-hit province, and donated VND2.5 billion (US$125,000) for relief operations, of which VND1.5 billion ($75,000) was saved from not letting off fireworks during Ha Noi's millennial celebrations.

The delegation also gave relief aid worth VND500,000 ($25) each to 100 worst-affected households in Bo Trach and Quang Trach districts.

Floods last week in central provinces claimed at least 66 lives and caused damage worth more than VND2.5 trillion ($125 million). 

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Images From Flickr.com (click on them for more) - 2009 Flooding in Hoi An

Articles Source - Vietnam News