Central Vietnam soaked by historic rainfall, flooding

VOV.VN - Heavy rain caused by a tropical low pressure over the past two days has submerged parts of the central region of Vietnam, throwing local residents’ life into chaos.

Heavy downpours swept across central provinces from Quang Ngai to Phu Yen, with total rainfall of between 250mm and 300mm, even over 400mm over 24 hours. Prolonged torrential rain caused water levels of local rivers to swell up, flooding many residential areas.

In Quang Tri province, a resident was reportedly washed away and six others were missing by violent floodwaters that hampered the rescue work. Local authorities mountainous districts of Dakrong and Huong Hoa evacuated 1,600 households from low-lying areas to a higher ground.

Meanwhile, Thua Thien-Hue province decided to temporarily shut schools October 8 as rising flood waters deluged low-loying areas of Quang Dien, Phong Dien, Phu Vang and Huong Thuy districts. The mountainous district of A Luoi was totally cut off from the mainland.

Similarly, heavy downpours caused flash floods and landslides in centrall-run Da Nang city, forcing it to close schools October 8 for students’ safety. Municipal authorities scrambled to put in place residential evacuation plans and encourage local residents in flood-prone areas to reinforce their houses as well as public works.

During a meeting held to discuss the flooding threat in the central region on October 7, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said the central region may face historic levels of flooding, similar to that seen back in 2017.

Deputy Minister Hiep therefore requested relevant units to implement effective plans aimed at minimising damage and preventing hydroelectric reservoirs from discharging excess water while the downstream areas remain flooded.

Mai Van Khiem, head of the Vietnam National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, warned heavy rain of between 500mm and 1,000mm or more will continue lash the central region as another new low-pressure is likely to form and strengthen into a storm in the East Sea in the coming days.

Due to this threat, flash flood warnings have been raised in the mountainous areas of the northwest in the central region and in the south-central coast.

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