Hanoi may be hit by storms and downpours from August to October 2010, which can floods in the city like the one in late 2008, says the Board for Flood and Storm Prevention.

Hanoi may be hit by storms and downpours from August to October 2010, which can floods in the city like the one in late 2008, says the Hanoi Board for Flood and Storm Prevention, which is basing its forecasts on the current abnormal weather patterns.

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At a conference on May 19 to discuss flood prevention measures in Hanoi this year, the Hanoi Water Drainage Company noted that there are 45 flood-prone sites in Hanoi after downpours of over 50mm, including 37 in the inner area that are 20-60mm deep. The city has a plan to prevent floods, but is hindered by road construction projects.

To deal with floods at the 37 downtown spots, the Department of Transportation will cooperate with traffic police to control traffic, noted transportation official Nguyen Nguyen Huy.

“If the floods are prolonged, we will use specialized vehicles, including boats, to carry motorbikes over the flooded areas,” Huy added.

Hanoi Department of Construction Deputy Director Le Van Duc added that his department had dredged all canals and drainage sewers. The agency has also prepared pumps.

Hanoi Vice Chair Nguyen Van Khoi asked the Departments of Construction and Transportation to ensure that floods would not affect the city’s 1000^th anniversary this October. He also requested related agencies to repair big lakes in Hanoi like Bay Mau, Dong Da and Ho Me.

PV