Two killed amid raging floods in central Vietnam

Dang Van Be, 61, who lives in Thua Thien-Hue's Huong Thuy Town, died after losing his footing and being swept away by floodwater. His body was found Saturday morning.

Thai Phong Vu, 13, who lives in Ha Tinh Province's Cam Xuyen District, was also killed amid rains and floods, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention.

Da Nang weather stations recorded rainfall of up to 340 mm from 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, close to the historic levels recorded on October 14, 2022, the day the central Vietnam city saw record-breaking floods, with water levels as much as 2 m deep.

Floods in Lien Chieu District's Hoa Khanh Nam Ward submerged streets by around 1 m underwater on Friday night, forcing around 5,000 people on Me Suot Street to be evacuated to safer areas. Authorities are considering taking people to schools and other public structures, as well as providing them provisions.

Several neighborhoods in Lien Chieu, Thanh Khe and Cam Le Districts were also 0.8-1 m underwater as of Saturday noon. Around 50 families in Hoa Tho Tay Ward saw rubbles tumbling down from the hill into their homes, causing mud to build up 0.3-0.5 m high.

In Thua Thien-Hue Province, rains have lasted for the past three days, causing low-lying areas to be inundated since Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning, certain areas in Hue City and Huong Thuy Town still saw water levels 1 m deep.

Several neighborhoods next to the Phu Bai River were flooded by 0.7-1 m. As the houses were situated close to the river, combined with water rushing in quickly and the North-South railway running through the area, the water could not be drained fast enough.

Ngo Thi Ngoc, chairwoman of Thuy Phu Commune, said around 200 houses along the Phu Bai River have been flooded. Certain routes connecting the villages could not be traversed. Authorities have barricaded the area to warn people.

The provincial military headquarters have also deployed over 100 people, including soldiers, militia members and civilians to deal with erosions at a bank in Quang Dien District, and the task was completed at 4 p.m. Friday.

In Quang Nam Province, home to Hoi An, rainfall from 1 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday was between 90-170 mm, with certain areas receiving as much as 480 mm. The Le Pass on provincial road 611 was eroded on Friday night, cutting off traffic between Que Son and Nong Son Districts. Authorities unblocked the route at around 8 a.m. Saturday.

Since October 10, localities from Ha Tinh to Quang Nam Provinces have been seeing heavy rains. Rains are forecast to persist until October 16, with rainfall between 70-400 mm.