As of August 16, heavy rains and thunderstorms will hit northern mountainous provinces while Hanoi is expected to suffer rains of 50-100 mm.

Super storm Utor is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression after making landfall in southwestern area of China’s Guangdong province.

According to the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Centre, by 7 am on August 15, storm Utor swept through the southeastern area of China’s Guangxi province with winds of up to 62-74 km per hour at its centre.

In the next 24 hours, Utor will move northwest, change into its west direction at a speed of 10-15 km per hour, move further inland and weaken into a low pressure system with winds speeds of 39-49kph.

Meanwhile, localities are actively implemented preventive measures against flash floods and landslides triggered by typhoon Utor.

Cao Bang province has requested districts to prepare measures against possible heavy showers and landslides and make plans to ensure safety for reservoirs and dams.

Quang Ninh province has inspected all ship shelters and dike systems, while calling all vessels operating at sea to return home to avoid the storm.

The province has also evacuated households in areas with high risk of landslide to safe places.

In Thai Nguyen province, the provincial Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention asked all local peoples to brace themselves for the storm.

Local rescue teams have been on standby to direct all dike systems and prepare irrigation plans to ensure safety for basin areas.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has ordered coastal provinces stretching from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh to inform offshore fishing and tourism vessels about the storm's progress, and urge them to find shelter.

In a related move, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hoang Van Thang has approved a plan to set up five teams to inspect irrigation reservoirs during the rainy season, and inspections have been conducted in 23 localities so far.

Localities ready for storm Utor

Northern provinces have conducted necessary preparations for Storm Utor, which has entered Guangdong province of China in the afternoon of August 14.

Quang Ninh province has inspected all ship shelters and dike systems, while calling all vessels operating at sea to return home to avoid the storm.

The province has also evacuated households in areas with high risk of landslide to safe places and reinforced houses.

On the afternoon of August 14, 1,242 vessels had returned home.

In Thai Nguyen province, the provincial Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention asked all localities to actively apply measures to respond to the storm.

The province has directed all dike systems and prepare irrigation plans to ensure safety for basin areas. Rescue teams are also ready.

Thai Nguyen was seriously hit by the recent fifth and sixth storms. They claimed one lives and destroyed 350 houses in the locality, while flooding thousands of hectares of food crops, causing billions of VND in losses.

According to the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Centre, by 7pm on August 14, Storm Utor swept through the southwestern area of China ’s Guangdong province with winds of up to 133km per hour.

The storm is forecast to move northwest and weaken into a tropical low pressure front. Rains are forecast for Vietnam ’s northern provinces as from August 16, with northern and northeastern mountain provinces warned of heavy rain and landslide.

VOV/VNA