The centre warned that water levels could rise by two to three metres upstream of the Hong (Red) – Thai Binh river system and waters could reach first warning level on the Chay, Thao, Lo and other rivers.

Flash floods, landslides and floods are forecast in northern mountainous provinces, especially Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan.

A cold front is expected to expand in the second half of September.

From September 14 to 17, Hanoi is forecast to experience showers and thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds.

In response to the situation, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested steering committees for natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue in northern provinces and cities, especially Thanh Hoa province, to closely monitor the situation and keep members of the public informed.

Local administrations have been instructed to regularly report on weather developments and damage to the Central Steering Committee.
In northern mountainous Ha Giang province, landslides and rocks collapsed the wall of a house in Bac Quang district on September 13, killing one person.

According to statistics from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in Ha Giang province, floods and landslides had hit from September 11 to 13 due to heavy rains, causing damage to property, crops and construction projects, causing losses of over 1.3 billion VND (56,000 USD).

Le Anh Dung, deputy head of the provincial irrigation sub-department, said the provincial Steering Committee had asked district leaders to urgently overcome the consequences of natural disasters and effectively implement prevention measures to minimise the damage.

Flooding caused by prolonged rains resulted in a landslide with 2,300cu.m of rock falling onto Highway 279 in Muong Ang district, Dien Bien province, on September 13 morning, blocking traffic.

In Vinh Long province's Long Ho district, 12 houses collapsed and 91 houses and dozens of hectares of fruit trees were damaged by thunderstorms on September 11, causing losses of about 1.8 billion VND./.VNA