Torrential rains trigger flooding, disrupt life in central Vietnam

Streets along the iconic Hoai River in Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province have been submerged 20-50 cm deep in floodwaters. Quang Nam has recorded rainfall of up to 305 mm since Saturday. Rainfall of 180 mm a day is considered heavy.
A combination of cold spell, tropical convergence and windward terrain of the Truong Son mountain range has caused torrential rains in the central region since Saturday.

Tran Van Binh, a resident in Hoi An Town’s Minh An Ward, takes his boat to shelter. "This is the second flooding of the year, and many streets are deep under water," Binh said.

In the mountainous district of Phuoc Son, Quang Nam Province, rising water levels in rivers and streams has worsened the flooding. A road going through Phuoc Thanh Commune is under of 40 cm of water.
"Local authorities have put up ropes and barricades to prevent vehicles from passing through this area," said Ho Van Phuc, Chairman of Phuoc Thanh Commune.

Landslides have sent rained soil and rocks to a fence protecting the Phuoc Thanh Primary and Secondary School, and this threatens to spill into classrooms. The school has 422 students who have been allowed to stay home for the last few days.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, the Dak Mi hydropower plant in Phuoc Son District recorded inflows of 5,183 cubic meters per second (cms), and the dam operator decided to discharge 2,373 cms of water. It is forecast that in the next 24 - 48 hours, Quang Nam will continue receiving heavy rainfall of up to 300 mm.

Residents push their broken down motorbikes on a flooded section of 1A Highway in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The province has recorded rainfall of over 400 mm over the past 24 hours.

Dragon boats usually used to transport tourists on the Huong (Perfume) River and to visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda have been tethered to old, strong trees at the Thuong Bac Park.
Heavy rains and flows from upstream areas have caused the water level of rivers in Thua Thien Hue to rise rapidly, leaving several residential areas submerged.

A low-lying house on a floating mound in the middle of the Nhu Y River in Thua Thien Hue.

In Ha Tinh Province, a cultural center in Cam Xuyen District is flooded at noon Sunday. The province has received rainfall of over 200 mm over the past 24 hours.

Hoang Thi Khai, 64, a Ha Tinh local, said that she lives alone and has been very worried when it rained heavily over the past two days.
"Last night, I went to a neighbor's house to ask for help to move dozens of bags of rice along with some important things like electric fans and the television upstairs to prevent them from being washed away," Khai said.

A high school yard in Ha Tinh is flooded, forcing teachers to move teaching equipment to safe areas.
At least five people, two each in Nghe An and Thua Thien Hue and one in Quang Tri have been reported missing since Saturday.
The national weather forecasting agency has said that central provinces from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien-Hue could experience heavy rainfall of up to 500 mm until Monday.