HCMC – More than 44,500 hectares of crops have been submerged in the midlands and deltas of Northern Vietnam as of July 21, according to the Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The provinces of Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh have been among the hardest hit, with 6,500 hectares, 9,800 hectares, and 27,400 hectares of crops flooded, respectively.
Local authorities are operating 165 out of 666 pumps and 16 sluices to drain the water. High water levels in the downstream Red River, due to water released from hydropower reservoirs, are hindering drainage efforts, particularly in coastal areas.
Rainfall from the night of July 20 to the afternoon of July 21 in northern mountainous areas ranged from 2 to 15 millimeters, with higher amounts recorded in Lai Chau, Son La, Yen Bai, and Hoa Binh provinces, ranging from 25 to 40 millimeters. Phu Tho Province saw 15 millimeters of rain.
On July 22, rainfall in northern mountainous regions is expected to be between one and 10 millimeters, with some areas seeing over 50 millimeters.
The midlands and northern delta regions are expected to receive less than three millimeters. Heavy rains are anticipated from the night of July 22 to 24, with totals reaching 50 to 200 millimeters and some areas exceeding 250 millimeters.
The Department of Water Resources has urged provincial and city authorities to identify areas at risk of flooding and develop response plans tailored to different crop development stages.
Authorities are monitoring rainfall and flood forecasts and managing hydropower reservoirs to ensure the safety of irrigation works and mitigate agricultural flooding.
