Vietnam issued high alert on natural disaster risk to level 4 in the central region, Kinh Te & Do Thi quoted Deputy Office Chief of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Nguyen Van Tien as saying at a meeting on October 18.

This is the highest level of natural disaster risk in the Red river and Thai Binh river basin.

Mr. Tien said that the natural disaster evolution is still very complicated and its impacts are likely to be even greater.

By raising the warning level of natural disaster risks caused by floods and landslides, the natural disaster response authorities aim to mobilize the participation of all forces in coping with floods in the central and provinces, Mr. Tien added.

The Vietnamese government is providing support for the flood victims in the central region. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

At the meeting, a representative of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) said that water levels of many rivers in the central region have reached critical level of No.3 (2.7 meters). It is forecast that huge floods are expected from October 18 to 20 due to rising water level of the rivers in the provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh.

Magnitude of this year’s floods surpasses "great flood" in 1979

Water levels in the Kien Giang river in Quang Binh province have surpassed the historic level in September 1979, as a tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm that will sweep the central region.

The water level in the Kien Giang River has risen to a very high level. Its water level at 0:00 a.m. on October 19 in Le Thuy district was 4.73 meters (0.82m higher than the historic flood of 1979).

It is forecast that in the coming hours, water levels in the Kien Giang river will continue to rise and water levels in the Le Thuy river are likely to increase to 5.5m (1.59m higher than the 1979 historical flood).

The NCHMF said that due to the influence of cold air combined with the tropical convergence with the axis across the central region, heavy rains will hit the provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

Prime Minister decides to give 4,000 tons of rice to support the central region

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to assign the Ministry of Finance to grant 4,000 tons of rice from the national reserves to support people in the flood-hit provinces.

In the coming days, the rain and flood situation will continue to occur complicatedly, the central provinces and the Central Highlands will be at high risk of landslides and flash floods. The PM has asked these provinces to continue implementing solutions to limit damage and protect people's lives and property.