[Hurricane88]

Rain to lessen as tropical depression weakens, making landfall in southern Vietnam

TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 11/06/2016 11:02 GMT + 7

The tropical depression hitting southern Vietnam has weakened after making landfall on Saturday evening, with rainfall forecast to decrease as the result.

After reaching the southern coastline, the tropical depression, which formed on Friday in the East Vietnam Sea, weakened to a low pressure area and is expected to dissipate in a few days, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Less rain is forecast while ships in the affected areas had been allowed to resume their operations by Saturday night.

The climatic phenomenon packed strong winds of up to 74 kilometers per hour along the coastal areas from Ninh Thuan to Ba Ria-Vung Tau, bringing downpours to southern localities as well as Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong in the Central Highlands.

Strong squalls caused waves three to five meters high off Binh Thuan Province, damaging and sinking many fishing boats, the provincial committee for search and rescue reported.

Torrential rain also brought about landslides along several roads in the south-central province of Phu Yen, while some houses in the affected zone were on the edge of collapsing, forcing the residents to abandon their homes.

Prolonged downpours and flooding damaged roads and bridges in Dak Lak Province, isolating multiple residential areas.

A total of 1,636 houses in Krong Bong District were isolated and 318 households were evacuated to a safer location.

About 10.5 kilometers of local streets and some 2,000 hectares of crops were inundated in the locality.

Fourteen speedboats and 200 officers were tasked with supplying food and water to people who were isolated by the floods.