Heavy rains trigger widespread flooding in Vietnam
Torrential rains have deluged Vietnam over the last three days, triggering flooding and forcing the evacuation of over 11,000 people in central Vietnamese regions.
At least five people have been killed, two in Quang Tri province and the others in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Quang Ngai provinces.
Seven others were missing as of Thursday night.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered various provinces across the country to deal with the heavy flooding and take urgent measures including evacuation to ensure people’s safety.
According to a Vn Express news report, some areas in Quang Tri and neighbouring Thua Thien-Hue Province received up to 980 mm of rain.
Rainfall of 180 mm a day is considered heavy.
Many communes in the districts have been cut off as some areas were under one meter of water and roads to the areas have been inaccessible due to landslides.
In the popular tourist town of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue province, many roads were inundated.
Officials said that around 200 houses were under 30 cm of water and people living in low-lying areas were forced to move to higher ground for safety.
Reports indicate that Hoi An, a tourist hotspot and Unesco heritage site, now looks like a massive lake following prolonged downpours with many streets under half a meter of water.
Plans are underway to evacuate people living in low-lying areas at the site.
Vietnam’s national weather forecasting centre has warned that the central region, from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai provinces, should expect more heavy rains of 330-400 mm a day until Sunday.
New Straits Times (.my) – October 10, 2020