At present, millions of people across Viet Nam have come together with compassion and solidarity to support those affected by severe flooding in the northern provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, and Lang Son. Amid these challenging times, communities and organisations are mobilising resources and efforts to provide urgent relief and assistance to flood victims.

In recent days, rains and floods in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Tuyen Quang and Cao Bang have left tens of thousands of households submerged and seriously threatened the safety of the dyke system.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 9 requested enhanced forecasting capacity to ensure a timely, flexible, and effective response to natural disasters, given that many localities are still suffering severe damage caused by Typhoon Matmo and its subsequent flooding, while disasters and weather patterns remain complex in the coming period.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a government delegation arrived in Thai Nguyen Province on October 8 to visit residents affected by the recent rain-triggered flooding and to direct relief efforts.

As of 5pm on October 8, heavy rains triggered by the aftermath of Typhoon Matmo had inundated and damaged nearly 22,600 ha of rice and crops, killed or swept away hundreds of thousands of livestock and poultry, and flooded close to 17,000 houses.

The Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) has launched the first phase of emergency relief to assist residents in the northern and central provinces of Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, and Nghe An, which suffered severe damage from Typhoon Matmo, the 11th to form in the East Sea this year.

In the wake of Typhoon Matmo, the circulation of its weakened low-pressure remnants, combined with wind convergence, brought heavy rainfall from the night of October 6 to the morning of October 7. This led to widespread flooding and numerous landslides across mountainous roads in several provinces.

The circulation of Typhoon Matmo have unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across northern Viet Nam, claiming three lives, leaving four missing, and submerging nearly 10,000 hectares of paddies and crops.

Ha Noi bore the brunt of the disruption with 19 flooded locations. Meanwhile, the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang reported 25 sites experiencing flooding and embankment collapses.

According to rapid statistics from the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 17:00 on October 7, nearly 10,900 ha of crops in the two regions, were submerged.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 7 issued an official dispatch, requesting concerted measures to effectively respond to and control floods, flash floods, and landslides in northern localities following prolonged heavy rains brought by Typhoon Matmo.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 6 signed Dispatch No. 188/CD-TTg, urging proactive measures to cope with the risk of flash floods, landslides and inundation caused by Typhoon Matmo, the 11th to hit the East Sea/ South China Sea this year.

Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to enter the East Sea/South China Sea so far this year, weakened into a tropical depression on the morning of October 6 and its circulation are forecast to bring heavy rainfall to Ha Noi from midday to the evening of the same day, according to Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam, Vice Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to affect the East Sea/ South China Sea this year, weakened significantly after making landfall in China’s Guangxi province on early October 6, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to hit the East Sea, is forecast to be over the waters of Quang Ninh on the night of October 5, with very strong winds of level 12–13 and gusts reaching level 16, said Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Provinces in the northern region are ramping up emergency measures as Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm to hit the East Sea this year, continues to strengthen on its way towards the mainland.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered prompt measures to ensure shelter, food, and essential supplies for communities affected by Typhoon Bualoi and subsequent flooding and tornadoes, with a firm commitment that no one shall be left homeless or hungry.

Typhoon Matmo is moving into the East Sea/ South China Sea and is expected to intensify in the coming days, bringing the risk of rough seas, heavy rains and flooding across northern and north-central Viet Nam.