Floods and landslides cut off areas across northern and central Vietnam

In central Nghe An province, rising water in the Cha Lap stream has flooded the road leading to five villages – Xop Nam, Phong, Vang Mon, Huoi Son and Pha Lom – in Tam Thai commune, cutting off 535 households with nearly 2,700 people. Water has reached about 1m deep in some places, with several low-water crossings submerged and impassable to people and vehicles.

The Tam Thai authorities have deployed personnel to monitor locations where water levels are rising, put up warning signs and urged residents not to cross fords, streams or other flooded areas during high water. They are also reviewing locations at risk of flash floods and landslides to prepare response measures.

Localised isolation has also occurred in other parts of Nghe An. In Son Lam commune, three low-water crossings have been flooded, including two on the commune’s main road. In Hanh Lam and Mon Son, several crossings leading to villages have been covered by floodwaters. Some residential areas and local roads in Dien Chau have also been inundated, disrupting travel.

Residents and students evacuated from danger zones

In central Ha Tinh province, prolonged heavy rain has caused localised flooding in several areas in the southern part of the province. At Song Tri Secondary School, water has risen to 1-1.2m in some areas, leaving parts of the school deeply flooded and isolated. Authorities have evacuated 120 students from the flooded area to safety and helped residents move people and property from inundated locations.

In northern Phu Tho province, due to widespread heavy rain, local authorities have urgently evacuated 114 households from areas at risk of landslides and flooding. From September 13-15, several locations recorded heavy rainfall, including Tan Pheo with 308.4mm, Cao Ram with 305.2mm and Lung Van with 293.4mm. Water levels on the Boi River also rose rapidly.

The evacuations have been accompanied by measures to reinforce houses, monitor vulnerable locations and regulate traffic on key roads, helping prevent people from remaining in unsafe areas.

In north-central Thanh Hoa province, many fords, low-water crossings and inter-village roads have been flooded as water levels in rivers and streams rise. In Tan Thanh commune alone, 15 locations on fords and inter-village roads have been inundated, temporarily cutting off communities comprising 267 households and nearly 1,400 people. Across the province, more than 61 fords have been deeply flooded, while eight locations on provincial roads have also been inundated, causing traffic disruptions.

Several mountainous areas have also reported embankment and slope failures, with soil and rocks falling onto roads. On National Highway 217 in Trung Ha commune, earth and rocks continued to slide onto the road on the evening of September 15, disrupting traffic.

Lao Cai clears landslides as roads remain at risk

In northern Lao Cai province, heavy rain from the night of September 14 through September 15 caused landslides at numerous locations on national highways, provincial roads and local routes. On National Highway 32 alone, six uphill slope failures were reported, involving more than 755cu.m of soil and rock. Other locations saw mud flow into drainage ditches and downhill slope failures.

One landslide on National Highway 32 in Tu Le commune involved nearly 2,000cu.m of soil and rock. Road management units have mobilised personnel and machinery to clear the affected areas, while ropes and warning signs have been installed at dangerous locations to ensure traffic safety.

Given the risk of further heavy rain, flash floods and landslides, the Chairman of the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee has instructed local authorities to review areas along rivers and streams, low-lying locations and other high-risk zones so that residents can be evacuated proactively. Authorities have also been asked to control people and vehicles at fords, low-water crossings and locations with strong currents.

Heavy rain to continue, keeping risks high

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on September 16-17, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, Nghe An and Lao Cai will continue to experience heavy to torrential rain, with rainfall generally ranging from 70-170mm and locally exceeding 250mm. The weather bureau warned that rainfall intensity could exceed 100mm in three hours in some places, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas, urban areas and industrial parks, as well as flash floods and landslides.

On rivers, the Boi River in Phu Tho is continuing to rise and is forecast to peak around midday to early afternoon on September 16, at about 1m above Level 3 alert. The Hoang Long River in Ninh Binh and several rivers in Thanh Hoa, including the Chu, Buoi and Yen rivers, are fluctuating between Level 2 and Level 3 alerts, putting low-lying areas and riverside alluvial zones at risk of flooding.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has asked local authorities to continue closely monitoring rainfall and flooding, strengthen warnings of rapidly rising water, deep flooding, flash floods and landslides, and control people and vehicles crossing fords, low-water crossings and deeply flooded areas. Authorities have also been instructed to evacuate residents from locations where safety risks are high.

Heavy rain to lash northern, north-central Vietnam through Sept 18

VOV.VN - Heavy downpours are forecast to batter northern and north-central Vietnam through September 18, with torrential rain persisting through September 16, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.