Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - After heavy rain has caused flooding anddisruption across much of the country in recent weeks, the National SteeringCommittee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on October 10 issued adispatch to ensure localities are ready to respond to any future downpours.

The dispatch said that due to a cold spell, central provinces and cities from QuangBinh to Phu Yen experienced heavy rains of 200-400mm in recent days. Someplaces in Thua Thien-Hue province had rainfall of more than 500mm.

These heavy rains meant rivers-levels reached alarm level two or higher (fiveis the highest). Flash floods and landslides continue to be a risk inmountainous areas, while flooding still threatens riverside and urban areas.

The steering committee asked provinces, cities and concerned organisations tomonitor heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods, and landslides.

Authorities must inspect and review residential areas along rivers, streams,and low areas to evacuate people to safe places.

Localities must assign forces to control and guide traffic, especially throughspillways, deeply flooded areas and fast-flowing water, ensure smooth trafficon main roads when heavy rain occurs and prevent flooding in urban andindustrial zones.

Provinces and cities should make sure reservoirs are safe, especially smallhydropower ones and critical irrigation ones, and arrange forces to be ready tohandle any emergencies.

Office manager of the Thua Thien-Hue Steering Committee for Natural DisasterPrevention and Control, Phan Thanh Hung, said that the province had fullyprepared a system of barriers and signals to control and guide vehicles whennecessary.

The committee on October 10 sent an order to gradually increase the flow of theHuong Dien hydropower to about 500-1000cu.m per second, starting at 11.30am.

Districts downstream of the Huong Dien hydropower reservoir are strictlyprohibited from fishing or any other activities on or near the river.

Phan Duy Anh, deputy chairman of the Hoa Vang District People's Committee in DaNang City, said that heavy rains from October 9 night to October 10 morningflooded many places.

By 10.30am, the water had not yet receded, and damage could not be accuratelyestimated.

Hoa Vang district guided units to assign workers to be on duty all day andupdate the flash flood and landslides to inform locals.

Nam Yen, Loc My and An Dinh villages in Hoa Bac commune, Hoa Vang district, wereisolated due to serious flooding.

The Hoa Vang district on October 10 closed many schools, from kindergartens tojunior high, to ensure students' safety./.