Heavy rainfall above 250mm forecast for parts of northern Vietnam

The weather agency forecast moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms across the region, with widespread rainfall of 50-120 mm during the three-day period.

Before the major rain event arrives, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected on Sunday, bringing 10-30 mm of rain, with isolated areas receiving more than 60 mm.

The agency warned that rainfall above 100 mm could occur in three hours, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding in low-lying urban and industrial zones.

Across the Red River Delta, including Hanoi, scattered showers and thunderstorms are also forecast through Tuesday, with localized heavy downpours.

To prepare for the severe weather, the National Civil Defense Steering Committee on Saturday urged northern mountainous provinces to promptly inform local authorities and residents so they can take appropriate precautionary measures.

These provinces were asked to mobilize emergency response teams to clear blocked waterways and proactively evacuate residents from areas at high risk of severe flooding, flash floods, and landslides.

Local forces must remain on standby to assist communities in responding to and recovering from any storm-related damage.

Earlier, heavy rain and flooding on Thursday night and early Friday morning had already affected several northern mountainous provinces, including Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, and Thai Nguyen.

The extreme weather conditions left one person dead, while another resident was injured by a lightning strike.

In addition, 42 homes were damaged or had their roofs blown off.

In Cao Bang, flooding inundated 79 homes before waters receded.

The rain also triggered three landslides along National Highway 34 in Cao Bang, temporarily disrupting traffic.

Authorities deployed personnel and equipment to reopen the route, while more than 22,000 cubic meters of earth and rock buried multiple local roads.