Why do floods flood across Asia?

In many countries such as Vietnam, India, Myanmar, and China, hundreds of people have died and lost their homes due to floods and landslides. El Nino and the effect of tropical cyclone Komen are thought to cause long-lasting storms.

Causes of flooding across Asia

Vietnam is facing the worst flood in 40 years, heavy rain and long-term continuous pouring into the northern provinces, leaving at least 17 people dead. Many other Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Myanmr also face flash floods and landslides, when the coming rainy season and heavy rains are expected to continue for many days.

On the new road to Mong Duong ward (Cam Pha city), many sections were eroded, big stones rolled down the road.(Photo: VnExpress)

According to Weather, the slow-moving monsoon low releases huge rainfall into South Asia early last week, then formed a tropical storm in northern Bengal Bay (Indian Ocean) on July 29.

The cyclone was named Komen, developed into a tropical storm and landed on July 30. Tropical depressions continue to develop near the Indian and Bangladeshi border at the end of the week, threatening to erode this area - which is flooded with floodwaters today.

India is one of the countries heavily affected by persistent rains. According to AP, more than 90 Indians were killed last week, tens of thousands of people were left homeless. More than 21 people are thought to have died in a landslide in the village of Joumol, Manipure state, northeastern India today.

Within a week, heavy rain also fell on Bangladesh and Myanmar. Rainfall measured within 3 days, from 24-26 July in Chittagong, Bangladesh coastal city more than 800 mm, more than 200 mm compared to the average annual rainfall in July in this region.

The town of Kalay, northwestern Myanmar is submerged in flood waters.(Photo: Reuters)

Meanwhile Myanmar is entering the rainy season, however, many people said that this year's rainy season has unusually heavy rains, especially in recent weeks.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday that about 156,000 people in 12 Myanmar provinces were affected by the floods, and this number " could still rise significantly. " destroyed, flood water caused landslides, making it impossible to salvage by road. The government of this country yesterday announced four western provinces as disaster areas.

The storm also struck China in July, causing heavy damage. Unexpected floods this year may be due to the impact of El Nino , China Daily quoted Ding Yihui, climate change adviser of the China Meteorological Administration.

He predicts, its impact will last until the end of the year, even through the spring to the year. El Nino is a phenomenon that dramatically changes sea surface temperature in the tropical belt of the Pacific Ocean, which occurs every 2-7 years when trade winds (strong winds blow continuously from southeast or northeast) on equatorial direction) begins to weaken. El Nino causes temperatures to rise, causing storms, floods and dryness.

However, the impact area of ​​El Nino this year is different from 1997-1998. El Nino in 1998 caused great flooding along the Yangtze, Tong Hoa and Nam Giang basins, killing thousands of Chinese. This year, this extreme weather phenomenon shifts south.

"Many big storms will form in the south sea, and will be more fierce , " Ding put forward predictions early last week. This year, El Nino will cause rain and heavy floods in August and September.

Chan-Hom stormed into Zhejiang Province, China in early July. (Photo: Reuters)

Duan Yihong, director of China Meteorological Institute, said that the East Sea region will form many storms this year. Duan has warned that the frequency of extreme weather events will increase in urban areas in the context of many countries are accelerating urbanization.

"Rainfall in urban areas is getting more and more difficult and unpredictable 'urban heat island effect,'" he said. Urban heat island is a warmer urban area than the surrounding suburbs.