Central Quang Nam Province has seen heavy rains over the last two days due to the impacts of cold air and high-altitude winds, with rain levels reaching up to 470 mm in certain areas. Hydropower plants upstream released their floodgates, and combined with rising tides, streets next the the Hoai River in Hoi An (pictured) were rendered 0.2-1 m underwater.
Nguyen The Hung, vice chairman of Hoi An City, said the floods peaked at around 1 a.m. Wednesday on the Thu Bon River, at 1.7 m deep. By 7 a.m., flood levels reduced to 1.5 m and gradually decreased. Hoi An City have let students at certain primary schools to be off school.
Rains stopped in Hoi An at noon and the sky turned clear.
Hydropower plants upstream also began to discharge less water, so flood levels were reduced by around 0.4 m from its peaks.
However, Bach Dang Street next to the Hoai River is still severely flooded, with the water being 0.5 m deep. Shops were closed and people traveled around using boats.
The water submerged the wheels of a motorbike near the An Hoi Bridge.
Ngo Van An, the owner of a handicraft store next to the Hoai River, said the water began to rise starting 7 p.m. Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning his shop was flooded by 0.3 m.
The water started receding from noon.
"This is the heaviest flood since the beginning of the year. As we have been used to living with the floods, we have relocated our belongings to higher places so they are not damaged," An said, adding that compared to the most recent flood in October 2020, water levels this time have been 0.6 m lower.
Water has receded on a section of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, with dozens of people and local forces joining to clean up the mud.
In nearby Hue City, heavy rains, combined with floodwater from upstream Huong River, have caused flooding in Hue since Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, several neighborhoods in Xuan Phu and Phu Hoi Wards were surrounded by water, which could be over a meter deep. Cars were brought to higher grounds to avoid flooding, though the water still went up to the wheels.
From November 13 to 15, due to the impacts of a mass of cold air and high-altitude winds, Thua Thien-Hue will see heavy rains, especially in Nam Dong, A Luoi and Phu Loc Districts, with rain levels between 500-800 mm, meteorological agencies said.
Water has invaded 65-year-old Nguyen Van Sum's home in Dong Ba Ward since Tuesday night and is still rising. Sum brought his motorbike and dogs to higher places to avoid the water.
Sum said the water rose too quickly this year, forcing the family to stay up all night to relocate their belongings.
Phan Van Hoa, 33, lives in a house lying next to the Nhu Y River. His family has resorted to using paddle boards to move around as the water is already over a meter deep.
At around 9 a.m. Wednesday, water levels on the Huong River reached 4.24 m at the Kim Long Station. The flooding rose to 4.4 m at noon.
The house of Tran Thi My Ni, 33, in An Dong Ward is flooded by around half a meter. Her children retreated to the couch instead of playing on the floor.
The Secret Institute relic site, now known as the headquarters of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center on Tong Duy Tan Street, was also surrounded by floodwater.
Besides Hue City, seven other districts: Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Huong Tra, Huong Thuy, Phu Vang, Phu Loc and Nam Dong also saw several flooded streets up to 0.5 m deep.
