Floodwaters rise again on rivers in flood-ravaged Da Nang

The central region's weather agency reported that at 7:00 pm, water levels on the Vu Gia River measured 15.75 meters at Hoi Khach, 0.25 meters above alarm level 2, and 8.74 meters at Ai Nghia, just below alarm level 3.

The Thu Bon River was recorded at 14.82 meters in Nong Son and 1.58 meters in Hoi An.

Over the next 24 hours, flood levels on the Vu Gia River are expected to remain above alarm level 3, while those on the Thu Bon River will rise to just below that level.

From Sunday night to Tuesday, the Tam Ky River is also forecast to swell to between alarm levels 1 and 2, causing further flooding in low-lying and urban areas.

By Sunday night, floodwaters had covered parts of DT 609 Road in Ha Nha Commune, while the area around Ai Nghia Market in Dai Loc was reported under water.

The Da Nang Civil Defense Steering Committee has issued an urgent directive for agencies and local authorities to prepare for worsening weather as a new cold front and storm Kalmaegi approach.

Meteorologists forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall between Sunday night and Tuesday, with total rainfall of 150-400 millimeters in the city’s northern part and 200-450 millimeters in southern areas.

Authorities have instructed schools to consider suspending classes depending on local flooding conditions.

Armed forces and coastal communes were also told to monitor storm Kalmaegi closely and warn fishing vessels at sea to take shelter.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, storm Kalmaegi’s center was located over waters east of the central Philippines as of 7:00 am on Monday, packing maximum sustained winds at 89-102 kph, gusting up to 167-183 kph.

Kalmaegi is forecast to enter the East Vietnam Sea early on Wednesday morning before making landfall in between Da Nang and Khanh Hoa Province on Friday.