At least four people were killed and eight others remain missing in central provinces after torrential rains brought by a tropical depression have stricken the region over the past few days.

Central localities and relevant agencies have been told to continue staying alert as a tropical depression is moving near the coast, about 200km to the east-northeast of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai provinces early this morning.

The Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA) has launched its 5th green architecture awards, a biennial activity to promote awareness about sustainable and green architecture.

An international workshop, titled ‘Climate Change and Agriculture: Status, Impact, Adaptation, Insurance in Vietnam and Taiwan’ has been held in Hanoi.

Work on construction of a 400 million USD waste-to-energy plant started on August 28 at the Tay Bac solid waste treatment complex in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tropical storm Podul is projected to make landfall on a stretch from central Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh provinces at noon on August 30 with heavy rains are expected in the northern and central regions from August 29 to September 2.

Storm Podul entered the East Sea early August 28, becoming the fourth storm to move into the sea this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Experts have suggested passing a new law to help improve air quality in Hanoi.

Although locals in the central city of Da Nang are now having water supply in a rotary fashion, they still face the risk of a relapse of water shortage as the salinity in input water for Cau Do waterwork – one of the major water plants of the city – has increased sharply.

The People’s Committee of central Da Nang city has decided to approve a project on building works to improve water environment in the east of Son Tra district at a total cost of over 1.4 trillion VND (60.8 million USD) between now and 2020.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has visited the southernmost province of Ca Mau to inspect landslide points along a sea dyke route in Tran Van Thoi district, which is at risk of breaking.

A hawksbill sea turtle, a critically endangered species, was reintroduced into the wild in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on August 23.

The prolonged severe drought has dried up thousands of hectares of protection forest in the south central province of Phu Yen, causing many forest fires.

A 30-metre section of Highway No 91 in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang fell into the Hau River this week after the soil underneath it eroded.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and relevant agencies on August 22 discussed measures to tighten control of used goods import and the re-export of waste shipments which failed to meet environmental protection regulations.

Ways to intensify the enforcement of laws on protecting forests and forest products in the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands were the focus of a workshop held in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on August 22.

The Mekong Delta region is in an urgent need for an inter-sectoral and comprehensive solution in water reserving, especially in years with drought, stated Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh on August 22.

Three to four storms are forecast to directly affect Vietnam’s mainland, mostly in the central and southern regions, from now to the end of this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Metrological Forecasting.

Technology and science is key to coping with future natural disasters, it was agreed at a recent workshop in Hanoi organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

A contest was launched in the Red River Delta province of Hung Yen on August 15, seeking initiatives, new models and products that can help to reduce plastic waste.