Hanoi (VNA) ♈– Tropical storm Nida, the second of its kind in 2016, is forecast to bring heavy rain in the north of Vietnam.

Total rainfall will be between 100 – 200 mm, even above 250 mm in some areas, from August 3-4, according to the National Centre for Hydro – Meteorological Forecasting. Strong winds along with rain could rage through the southern part of the East Sea, including Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and coastal areas from central Binh Thuan to Ca Mau provinces. Heavy rain is likely to hit the Central Highlands and southern region. The centre warned of possible flash floods and landslides in northern mountainous areas, especially in Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Bac Can, Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh from August 3-5. To cope with the storm, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control under the National Committee for Search and Rescue have directed northern mountainous localities to keep a close watch on weather developments. Lao Cai and Yen Bai, the provinces hardest hit, need to evaluate losses and support locals. The rainstorm on August 2 killed two children and injured three other people in Lao Cai province. A whirlwind on the same day damaged about 1,000 houses in Yen Bai province.-VNA