Storm No. 4 weakens into a tropical depression but still causes heavy rain, warning of flash floods and landslides in many places

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, immediately after entering the sea area from Quang Binh to Thua Thien - Hue provinces, storm No. 4 weakened into a tropical depression.

Currently, the storm center is located at about 16.9 degrees North latitude, 106.7 degrees East longitude, on the mainland of Quang Binh - Quang Tri provinces, with the strongest wind at level 6, gusting to level 8.

It is forecasted that in the next 3 hours, the tropical depression will move west at a speed of about 15km/h.

The meteorological agency warns localities to continue to closely follow flood forecast information, flash flood risk maps, landslides, and not to be negligent, subjective, or lose vigilance.

Last night and today, September 19, in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang, there was heavy to very heavy rain and thunderstorms. The rainfall from 7:00 p.m. on September 18 to 3:00 p.m. on September 19 was over 200mm in some places, such as: Mai Hoa (Quang Binh) 222.8mm, Ta Long (Quang Tri) 363.6mm, Bach Ma (Thua Thien Hue) 321.3mm...

From the evening and night of September 19 to September 20, the area from Ha Tinh to Quang Tri is forecast to have heavy to very heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms with common rainfall of 100-200mm, some places over 350mm. From the night of September 20, heavy rain will gradually decrease.

From the evening and night of September 19 to the night of September 20, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An will have heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms, with some places experiencing very heavy rain with common rainfall of 100-200mm, and some places experiencing over 300mm. From September 21, heavy rain will gradually decrease.

Soil moisture models show that some areas in the above provinces are close to saturation (over 85%) or have reached saturation.

In the next 6 hours, there is a risk of flash floods on small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes in many districts.

Flash floods and landslides can have very negative impacts on the environment, threaten people's lives; cause local traffic congestion, affect the movement of vehicles; destroy civil and economic works, causing damage to production and socio-economic activities.