All coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Phu Yen and mountainousnorthern provinces have been asked to accelerate emergencypreparations as storm Usagi moves closer.

The CentralCommittee for Flood and Storm Control Prevention on September 21 sent anemergency note to all agencies and provinces. The storm was forecast toreach China’s Guangdong province by 1pm on September 23 and theChina-Vietnam border one day later.

Heavy rains in theMekong Delta province of An Giang on the weekend removed roofsfrom at least 25 houses and caused up to 300 million VND in damages.

In the central province of Nghe An, the bodies of four peopleswept away and trapped in their car on September 19 were recovered afteraround 350 rescuers were deployed for the rescue mission.

In Quang Tri province, heavy rains and flashfloods wracked up 50billion VND in damage and many residents found their houses underwaterafter the Se Pon River level rose in Thuan commune, Huong Hoa district.Local authorities prioritised deploying resources to save lives andrepair roads and irrigation projects.

In Dak Lacprovince in the Central Highlands, flashfloods killed at least sixpeople and two others went missing, most of whom were Mong residentsploughing mountainous land and who had not been informed about theflood.

At least 10 people died and 12 others were missing due to floods and rains in the last four days.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked Electricity of Vietnam toease water levels at hydropower plants in Son La, Hoa Binh, TuyenQuang, Thac Ba and secure all construction works.-VNA