Death toll reaches 17 as heavy rains wreak havoc, new tropical depression forms after Storm Linfa
	Italy help strengthening flood forecasting and warning system in Vietnam
	Noul storm caused more than USD 21 million in damage, 10,000 trees fallen in Hue

Heavy rains have triggerd severe flooding and landslides in the central and Central Highlands regions. Photo: Tienphong

Storm Nangka is heading towards Vietnam’s northern and north-central regions following its evolution from a tropical depression on October 12 afternoon, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Nangka made its appearance a day after Storm Linfa made landfall in central Vietnam on October 11 morning.

As of 1 p.m., Nangka lay about 430 km to the east-northeast of Vietnam’s Paracel Islands, with a maximum wind speed of 75 kph, the centre said.

Satellite image of storm Nangka heading for northern and north-central Vietnam, October 12, 2020. Photo courtesy of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Within the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to move west-northwest at about 20 kph and grow stronger. By 1 p.m. on October 13, the storm’s centre is expected to be above the eastern area of China’s Hainan Island, with a maximum wind speed of 100 kph.

By 1 p.m. on October 14, its centre is expected to be above waters off northern and north-central Vietnam, with a maximum wind speed of 100 kph.

Nangka is expected to cause strong winds in several areas of the Bien Dong Sea (South China Sea) within the next 24 hours, the centre said.

The Hong Kong Observatory and the Japan Meteorological Agency have made similar predictions, that Nangka would move west-northwest, and the storm’s centre would be above sea regions in northern and north-central Vietnam at around 1 p.m. on October 14 but with a maximum wind speed of 83-85 kph.

Since the middle of last week, the entire central coast and some Central Highlands provinces have been hit by torrential rains. Photo: Tienphong

Nangka is the seventh storm to form in the South China Sea. The sixth, Storm Linfa, grew from tropical turbulence that, combined with a cold spell, had caused heavy rains that triggered floods and landslides in central Vietnam, where at least 21 people have been confirmed dead and 14 others missing, VnExpress reported.

After making landfall on October 11 morning, Linfa quickly reverted back into a tropical depression.

Natural disasters, mostly floods and landslides triggered by storms, killed 132 people and injured 207 others in Vietnam last year.

21 dead, 14 missing in floods

Cam Thuy commune in Cam Lo district, Quang Binh province is submerged under water. Photo: VNA

Severe flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the central and Central Highlands regions have left at least 21 people dead and 14 others missing.

The fatalities were reported in Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Binh and Quang Ngai on the central coast, and Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Lam Dong in the Central Highlands.

In some areas, hundreds of houses have been submerged almost four metres under water.

Over 100,000 houses in 206 communes in Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue provinces and Da Nang city are under 0.3-3 metres of water.

Thua Thien-Hue is one of the localities hardest hit by torrential rains. Photo: 24h.com.vn

The Ministry of National Defense has called for the mobilisation of more than 9,600 soldiers, police officers and civilian volunteers to stand by to help people in flood-hit areas.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of the Office of National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, said the ministry has made plans to airlift people from areas that are cut off.

Thua Thien-Hue province's Department of Education and Training has order school closures from October 12-13. Photo: 24h.com.vn

On October 11, aviation authorities closed Chu Lai Airport in Quang Nam, Phu Bai in Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang International Airport and canceled dozens of flights to and from the region.

Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated while authorities have stepped up efforts to supply food and other necessities to marooned people.

The flooding is expected to last until the end of this week./.

About 300 people die and go missing due to natural disasters each year: VNRC Vietnam Red Cross Society President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said that in Vietnam, every year, about 300 people die and go missing due to natural ...

ADB-funded project helps Thua Thien-Hue mitigate risks of natural disasters The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on October 10 launched a project to help mitigate risks of natural disasters in Hue imperial city, the central province ...

Natural disasters left 224 dead and missing, cost Vietnam 860 million USD in 2018 Vietnam recorded 224 persons dead and missing and economic losses of nearly 20 trillion VND (859.5 million USD) in natural disasters in 2018, according to ...