VIENTIANE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Lao weather bureau has forecast widespread rainfall across the country from Thursday through Sunday as a tropical storm approaches, urging the public to remain vigilant and prepare for possible flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding.
A tropical depression is moving west-northwest at a speed of 30 km per hour and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, Bavi, on Thursday afternoon, according to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Wednesday.
Combined with a moderate southwest monsoon affecting most of the country, the system is expected to bring widespread thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds to many parts of Laos throughout the forecast period. ■