Hanoi (VNA)꧂ – Storm Dianmu, the third so far this year, has caused minimal losses thanks to proactive response, the standing board of the Central Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control told a meeting in Hanoi on August 20.

Dianmu swept through the northern port city of Hai Phong to the northern province of Bac Ninh after making landfall in the mainland on August 19, bringing heavy rains to the northern and northern central regions. The storm killed one in northern Son La province, left three in Hanoi injured and another one in northern Bac Giang province missing. It triggered the collapse of 13 houses, unroofed 297 houses, and inundated 117 houses, and nearly 5,800ha of rice and vegetables. Five bridges in Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen and Son La provinces broke down. Power supply is expected to be restored on August 20 in several areas in Hanoi and the northern provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc. To better cope with storms in the future, the committee asked localities to evacuate residents from areas prone to landslides or flooding while ensuring the safety of dykes and key infrastructure. According to the National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, landslides are likely to occur in northern mountainous areas and the northern central region, including the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An on August 20. Water levels in the Thao, Luc Nam, Thuong, Ma and Buoi rivers are increasing. Moderate and heavy rainfalls are also forecast from the north to the south the same day.-VNA