The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has issued a warning about the risk of flooding and the potential for other natural disasters affecting 39 districts in 8 northern provinces.
Warning: 39 localities in 8 northern provinces at risk of flooding
According to document DBLU_12/09h00/DBQG dated September 10, 2024, regarding the unusually high flood alert, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting forecasts a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas along rivers in the provinces of Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Phú Thọ, Bắc Giang, Bắc Kạn, Thái Nguyên, and Hòa Bình; flash floods and landslides in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam. Specifically, the districts at risk of flooding include:
- 1. Yên Bái: Yên Bái, Trấn Yên, Văn Yên, Văn Trấn, Lục Yên, Yên Bình, Trạm Tấu.
- 2. Bắc Giang: Bắc Giang City, Hiệp Hòa, Việt Yên, Lục Ngạn, Lạng Giang, Lục Nam.
- 3. Thái Nguyên: Thái Nguyên City, Sông Công City, Phú Lương, Đồng Hỷ, Phú Bình, Phổ Yên Town.
- 4. Bắc Ninh: Bắc Ninh City, Yên Phong.
- 5. Phú Thọ: Tân Sơn, Thanh Sơn, Tam Nông, Yên Lập, Hạ Hòa, Thanh Ba, Cẩm Khê, Lâm Thao.
- 6. Tuyên Quang: Hàm Yên, Chiêm Hóa, Tuyên Quang City.
- 7. Hà Nội: Areas along the Red River in Tây Hồ, Long Biên, Hoàn Kiếm, Gia Lâm districts.
- 8. Ninh Bình: Nho Quan, Gia Viễn, Ninh Bình City.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts for the next 12 hours:
- Flood levels on the Thao River in Lào Cai will continue to decrease; in Bảo Hà, the changes will be slow; in Yên Bái, it will continue to rise and maintain above historical flood levels; in Phú Thọ, it will reach above alert level 1.
- Flood levels on the Lô and Cầu rivers will continue to rise to alert level 3; the Thương River will change slowly, remaining above alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Lục Nam River will decrease slowly but remain above alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Thái Bình River will continue to rise above alert level 2.
- Flood levels on the Hoàng Long River will continue to rise above alert level 2.
- Flood levels on the Red River in Hà Nội will continue to rise rapidly, reaching alert level 1.
In the next 12 to 24 hours:
- Flood levels on the Thao River in Lào Cai will continue to decrease; in Bảo Hà, it will decrease slowly; in Yên Bái, it will change slowly and maintain above historical flood levels; in Phú Thọ, it will be above alert level 1.
- Flood levels on the Lô, Thương, and Cầu rivers will change slowly and maintain at alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Lục Nam River will continue to decrease below alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Thái Bình River will continue to rise to alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Hoàng Long River will continue to reach alert level 3.
- Flood levels on the Red River in Hà Nội will continue to rise rapidly, reaching alert level 2.
Warning: From today (September 10) to September 11, a flood event is expected on other rivers in the northern region. During this flood event, peak flood levels on small rivers in the northern mountainous provinces and rivers in the lower Red River and Thái Bình delta regions, as well as coastal river estuaries, are expected to reach alert levels 2 to 3, with some rivers exceeding alert level 3.
Flooded river in Northern Vietnam. (Photo: Internet).
Levels of disaster risk due to floods and inundation
According to Article 45 of Decision 18/2021/QĐ-TTg, the levels of disaster risk due to floods and inundation are defined as follows:
Level 1 disaster risk includes the following cases:
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 1 to below alert level 2 at hydrological stations in areas 1, 2, and 3 in a river basin;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 2 to below alert level 3 at hydrological stations in area 1 in a river basin.
Level 2 disaster risk includes the following cases:
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 1 to below alert level 2 at hydrological stations in area 4 in a river basin;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 2 to below alert level 3 at hydrological stations in areas 2 and 3 in a river basin;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 3 to below alert level 3 plus 1.0 m at hydrological stations in areas 1 and 2 in a river basin;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 1 to below alert level 3 at hydrological stations in area 1 or flood levels high from alert level 1 to below alert level 2 at hydrological stations in areas 2 and 3 across multiple river basins.
Level 3 disaster risk includes the following cases:
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 2 to below alert level 3 plus 0.3 m at hydrological stations in area 4;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 3 and above at hydrological stations in area 3;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 3 plus 1.0 m and above at hydrological stations in areas 1 and 2;
- Forecast of flood levels high from alert level 1 to below alert level 2 at hydrological stations in area 4 or flood levels high from alert level 2 to below alert level 3 at hydrological stations in area 3 or flood levels high from alert level 2 to below alert level 3 plus 1.0 m at hydrological stations in area 2 or flood levels high from alert level 3 to below alert level 3 plus 1.0 m at hydrological stations in area 1 across multiple river basins.
Level 4 disaster risk occurs when the forecasted flood level is high from alert level 3 plus 0.3 m to historical flood levels at hydrological stations in area 4.
Level 5 disaster risk occurs when the forecasted flood level exceeds historical flood levels at hydrological stations in area 4.
A list of hydrological stations in areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 is detailed in Appendix XIII of Decision 18/2021/QĐ-TTg.
In cases where the forecast area has multiple regions with different levels of disaster risk, the highest level of risk shall be taken as the applicable level.
In places with flood control works, historical flood levels are replaced by design flood levels.
Based on the actual needs for disaster prevention and control, provinces and centrally governed cities will coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to determine the disaster risk levels for hydrological stations (flood warning locations) in their management areas that are not specified in Decision 18/2021/QĐ-TTg.
