Vietnam braces itself for further flooding
Vietnam is actively preparing itself for further floods as Tropical Storm Peipah approaches.
Peipah made landfall on the northern Philippine Island of Luzon during Sunday night, lashing the island with heavy rain and with winds of over 65mph (100km/h). It triggered floods and left many without power as electricity posts were toppled by the strong winds. Two people were reported dead while hundreds are said to have been displaced.
On Monday morning the storm cleared Luzon and is now tracking across the South China Sea en route for Vietnam. While it is forecast to strengthen to a typhoon again over the next 24hrs, it is expected to weaken before making landfall in Central Vietnam on Thursday.
The storm is expected to bring torrential rain and trigger further floods. The region, which includes the Central Highlands coffee belt, has already been left reeling by storms and floods, not just over the last week, but through much of October. Authorities are keen to minimise the impact of Peipah and in readiness have ordered 15,000 boats to shore and evacuated 60,000 people to higher ground.
