VietNamNet Bridge – The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, said it has canceled ten domestic flights as from August 19 as tropical storm Dianmu, the third of its kind to hit the country so far this year, is approaching near.

The cancelation targets flights between Ho Chi Minh City, central Nha Trang and Danang cities and northern Haiphong city, and between HCM City and north-central Thanh Hoa province.

On August 18, the carrier also aborted two flights between Danang and Pleiku in the central province of Gia Lai due to bad weather.

The airlines said it will conduct two more flights on the Danang-Pleiku route on August 19 and two more others on the HCM City-Thanh Hoa route on August 20 to help passengers affected by the cancelation.

The tropical storm is forecast to affect Noi Bai, Vinh and Dien Bien airports on August 19. Pleiku city is also expected to experience unfavourable weather conditions in the next few days.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, torrential rains began in the entire northern and northern central regions from the afternoon of August 18.

It put northern mountainous provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang, and the mountainous areas of central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces at risk of flooding, flash floods and landslides.

The storm is becoming stronger and is predicted to hit the coast from northern Haiphong city to Ninh Binh province at around 10 am of August 19, with the strongest winds of 75-100km per hour.

***The low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has cancelled eight domestic flights as storm Dianmu is anticipated to hit several northern provinces on August 19.

They include roundtrip flights between Ho Chi Minh City and central Thanh Hoa province, Nha Trang city in central Khanh Hoa province and Thanh Hoa, HCM City and Haiphong, Haiphong and Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Pleiku city the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and Haiphong, and Haiphong and HCM City.

Besides, four flights to/ from Cat Bi International Airport in Haiphong will be rerouted to/from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the carrier said.

Earlier, the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, said it has canceled ten domestic flights as from August 19, due to the storm, which is forecast to roll into the coast from Haiphong city to Ninh Binh province at around 10 am of August 19, with the strongest winds of 75-100km per hour.

After making landfall, it will continue affecting provinces in the northeastern and north-central regions.

The National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said widespread downpours will be recorded across the northern and northern central regions through August 20. A total rainfall of between 200-300mm, even 400mm, can be seen in these areas.

It also warned a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, along with inundation in lowland provinces in the regions.

VOV/VNA