This year's rain and storm season is expected to arrive late - and beeven more unpredictable.
Low-pressure systems overthe East Sea usually bring tropical storms and heavy rainfallsbetween May and June.
However, so far, none had beenreported, said the head of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorologicalForecasting, Bui Minh Tang
He said that this couldmean that when they did arrive, they would be far more complicated andcould lead to serious flash flooding.
"And thisyear's storm season is likely to last until the end of this year, justlike in 1983 and 1998," Tang warned.
Large-scaleflooding is now forecast for central and northern rivers from August toOctober and from July to November in the Central Highland region.
Tang warned people to prepare against sudden floods, stormsand landslides in mountain areas.
Head of theDepartment for Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Prevention Tran QuangHoai said only limited work had been done this year.
Hoai said the situation was getting worse, blaming urbanisation forencroaching on flood-drainage corridors.
He saiddistrict-level authorities were the key to improving the situation.
The vice chairman of Phu Xuyen District People's Committeein Hanoi , Nguyen Dinh Chieu, suggested local authorities beregularly updated about storms.
He also called fortighter management of dyke systems and sand exploitation along riverbanks.
The chairman of Thach Ha District People'sCommittee, Do Khoa Van, said the State should give financial support tolocal authorities to consolidate dyke systems - and to supply rescueequipment.
Last week, 80mm of heavy rain causedflash floods in Tuong Duong District in the central province of Nghe An.Initial losses were estimated at 10 billion VND (526 million USD)./.
Low-pressure systems overthe East Sea usually bring tropical storms and heavy rainfallsbetween May and June.
However, so far, none had beenreported, said the head of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorologicalForecasting, Bui Minh Tang
He said that this couldmean that when they did arrive, they would be far more complicated andcould lead to serious flash flooding.
"And thisyear's storm season is likely to last until the end of this year, justlike in 1983 and 1998," Tang warned.
Large-scaleflooding is now forecast for central and northern rivers from August toOctober and from July to November in the Central Highland region.
Tang warned people to prepare against sudden floods, stormsand landslides in mountain areas.
Head of theDepartment for Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Prevention Tran QuangHoai said only limited work had been done this year.
Hoai said the situation was getting worse, blaming urbanisation forencroaching on flood-drainage corridors.
He saiddistrict-level authorities were the key to improving the situation.
The vice chairman of Phu Xuyen District People's Committeein Hanoi , Nguyen Dinh Chieu, suggested local authorities beregularly updated about storms.
He also called fortighter management of dyke systems and sand exploitation along riverbanks.
The chairman of Thach Ha District People'sCommittee, Do Khoa Van, said the State should give financial support tolocal authorities to consolidate dyke systems - and to supply rescueequipment.
Last week, 80mm of heavy rain causedflash floods in Tuong Duong District in the central province of Nghe An.Initial losses were estimated at 10 billion VND (526 million USD)./.
