Authorities in Vietnam’s southern and Central Highlands provinces and cities have been asked to take precautionary measures against extreme weather and ensure safety of dams and reservoirs, as excessive rainfall could linger until next Monday.

The national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control on Friday sent a dispatch to these localities, asking for their efforts to respond to possible natural disasters.

Localities in the Central Highlands region have to constantly update weather forecast news and timely inform competent forces and local people of unfavorable weather conditions, especially those living in vulnerable areas.

In addition, they need to dispatch working teams to inspect riverside, low-lying, flood- and landslide-prone locations to prepare evacuation plans.

They must also adopt measures to ensure safety of hydropower dams and irrigation reservoirs.

Both southern and Central Highlands localities are expected to see moderate to heavy rains, packing thunderstorms over this weekend, while heavy downpours are forecast in some areas with rainfall exceeding 150mm, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

From Sunday evening to next Monday, the two regions will be likely to experience intense rainfall of over 100mm.

As for the northern region, medium to heavy downpours could hit northern localities on Saturday, with common rainfall of 40-80mm.

Those residing in mountainous areas and low-lying areas should prepare for possible flash floods, landslides, and flooding, the center said.

Also, showers and thunderstorms are forecast in the central and southern of the East Vietnam Sea, coastal areas from south-central Binh Thuan Province to southern Ca Mau Province during Saturday.

The southwestern part of the East Vietnam Sea may be hit by wind gusts, sea waves of 2-3m high.

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