Residents in northern Vietnam are warned of possible flash floods, landslides, and inundation as heavy rainfall may batter the region from Sunday till Wednesday next week, according to the national weather agency.

The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said on Friday that precipitation of 70-250mm is forecast to hit mountainous areas, while the delta may see rainfall of 50-150mm.

In response to the upcoming intense rainfall, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Friday afternoon sent a dispatch to northern provinces and cities, asking them to urgently handle the aftermath of the recent downpours and floods.

These locales were told to timely inform local authorities and people of possible natural disasters so that they can take precautionary measures.

The ministry also demanded that these locales take action to protect vulnerable locations, stay ready for evacuation operations, and ensure safe operations of key hydropower and irrigation reservoirs.

Over the past few days, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods due to the impact of storm Prapiroon, the second to hit Vietnam this year, have wreaked havoc across the northern region.

In the mountainous provinces of Son La and Dien Bien, flash floods and landslides claimed the lives of nine people and left eight others missing.

Meanwhile, flooding struck Hanoi and some locations of Son La, with hundreds of houses in this province swept away or tumbling due to floodwaters.

On Wednesday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered provinces and cities nationwide to review and update their natural disaster prevention and control plans, with a focus on measures to minimize human damage caused by flash floods and landslides.

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