Floods claim two lives, three reported missing in central Vietnam

Heavy rains, combined with floodwaters from the upstream Huong and Bon rivers, caused severe flooding in Hue city. Several main streets such as Truong Chinh, Han Dinh Phung, Hai Trieu, and Ben Nghe were surrounded by water over a metre deep in some places.

The North-South railway running through the Hien Sy-Huong Thuy section was also left submerged, prompting express trains to grind to a halt.

Furthermore, rock and soil triggered by a landslide in Binh Tien commune of Huong Tra Town fell down on house, leaving a couple stuck inside. Luckily, they were rescued by local people and rescue forces.

In Quang Tri, torrential rain also inundated more than 1,300 houses in Cam Lo district and Dong Ha city, forcing many families to evacuate to safe places. Heavy downpour also isolated and disrupted traffic on several key roads throughout the area.

In the cities of Hue and Hoi An, streets were inundated by up to 500 to 800mm of flooding due to the downpour coupled with water discharged from hydropower plants.

In Quang Ngai province, post-rain landslides occurred across Huong Tra commune of Tra Bong district, making roads impassable.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control asked regional cities and provinces to adopt measures to ensure local residents’ safety amid complicated developments of flooding.   

The committee also requested the localities to closely monitor weather patterns and come up with prompt actions.