Flood leaves 5 dead in northern Vietnam

Floods triggered by torrential rains in recent days have killed at least five people in Vietnam's northern provinces so far, the country's Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control said on Wednesday. Floods also left seven others injured and one missing, said the committee. Over 200 houses and more than 3,762 hectares of rice and other crops have been destroyed. Meanwhile, many major roads have been blocked due to landslides, causing difficulties to traveling. In an urgent telegram on July 30, the committee asked related agencies in provinces and cities to mobilize on-duty forces, reinforce dykes, and evacuate families from the flood-prone areas if required. As the water level of rivers continues rising, the provincial authorities have directed the localities to keep a close watch to actively carry out prompt measures to deal with floods and relocate residents in dangerous areas to safe shelters. In addition, a tropical depression has strengthened into a storm named Jebi. The National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center reported that at 07:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Jebi's wind strength was measured between 75-88 kilometers per hour near its center. In the next 24-48 hours, the storm is forecast to move north and northwest at a speed of 10-15 kilometers per hour and is likely to regain strength. Coastal provinces have informed fishing vessels out at sea of the storm to avoid danger zones.