Police, military forces evacuate residents as storm Narra triggers flooding in northern Vietnam

In Lang Son, police units were ordered to check areas at risk of flooding, landslides, and flash floods after torrential rain battered various parts of the mountainous province from Friday night through Saturday morning.

At Gieng Vuong Market in Dong Kinh Ward, nearly 100 police officers used motorboats, inflatable boats, and other equipment to help more than 200 business households move goods and property out of flooded areas. 

Two injured residents were also given first aid and taken to safety.

In Ky Lua Ward, rising water levels in the Ky Cung River and Lao Ly Stream flooded several households around Ban Nga Market. Local police and other forces helped residents evacuate and move their belongings.

Authorities have urged residents to closely monitor weather forecasts and official warnings, as well as avoid crossing deep floodwaters, low-water crossings, bridges and roads at risk of landslides.

A delegation led by Tran Thanh Nhan, vice-chairwoman of the Lang Son administration, also inspected Ban Lai Reservoir and areas in Mau Son and Loc Binh Communes on Saturday morning.

The reservoir's water level stood at 303.6 meters, while its operator continued retaining water to reduce flooding downstream.

In neighboring Bac Ninh, intense rainfall from Thursday night through Saturday morning caused localized flooding, disrupted traffic, and affected agricultural production, particularly in mountainous areas.

Yen Dinh Commune recorded about 200 millimeters of rain between 5:00 pm on Friday and 6:00 am on Saturday. Rising river and stream levels threatened several sections of National Highway 31 and Provincial Road 291, while four low-water crossings were also flooded.

In Tay Yen Tu Commune, flooding at several low-water crossings cut off travel, while a landslide damaged a rural road section from An Vinh Hamlet to Tuan Dao. Authorities warned residents against traveling through flooded crossings, areas with strong currents or landslide-prone locations.

In Son Dong Commune, authorities had evacuated 14 households with 58 people to safe areas on Saturday morning. Some villages were partially isolated as floodwaters continued rising. Warning signs and checkpoints were installed at deeply-flooded locations.

Six villages in Bien Dong Commune were also inundated and cut off from surrounding areas.

The Bac Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment reported that 454 hectares of farmland remained under water, with water levels in some rivers expected to rise 2-5 meters in coming days.

Storm Narra may strengthen slightly

As of 4:00 pm on Saturday, storm Narra was over the waters off Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, about 140 km east of Quang Ninh, 150 km east-northeast of Hai Phong, and about 110 km north-northeast of Hai Phong’s Bach Long Vi Special Zone, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Narra was moving south-southwest at around 5 kph, packing sustained winds of 62-74 kph, with gusts reaching 89-102 kph.

In the next 24 hours, it may move slowly southward at 3 kph while maintaining the same intensity.

The storm then may shift its path toward the east, with winds of 75-88 kph and gusts reaching 103-117 kph by 4:00 pm on Monday.

The weather agency said the storm could strengthen slightly because sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Tonkin remained relatively high and the storm was moving slowly.

It is expected to weaken into a tropical depression after reaching China’s Leizhou Peninsula around Tuesday.

From now through Monday night, rainfall could reach 100-200 mm in northeastern areas, Phu Tho Province, and Thanh Hoa Province, with isolated areas receiving more than 400 mm.

Quang Ninh and Hai Phong could receive 250-350 mm, with isolated areas exceeding 600 mm.

Lang Son and Bac Ninh are forecast to receive 200-300 mm, with localized totals above 500 mm.

Hanoi is also expected to experience moderate to heavy rain of 100-200 mm through Monday night, with isolated areas receiving more than 200 mm.

Localized flooding, thunderstorms, whirlwinds, and strong gusts could occur in several localities, including Hanoi, potentially causing trees and advertising signs to fall.