Floods leave 10 dead, missing in central Vietnam

Floods triggered by torrential rain in Vietnam's central region in the past few days have left ten people dead or missing, the country's Central Steering Committee for National Disaster Prevention and Control said Wednesday. The victims included six in Phu Yen province, four in Binh Dinh province and one in Kon Tum province, the committee said in its latest report.

From November 27 to 30, total rainfall exceeded 800 mm of precipitation in several areas. Nearly 60,000 houses have been inundated and over 4,700 others isolated due to the floods, all in Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. The floods have also forced more than 6,000 households to relocate to safe places, according to the report.

In an urgent dispatch sent Tuesday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered relevant authorities, especially those in central localities, to implement prompt measures to ensure people's safety and minimize property damage. Between January and November, natural disasters in Vietnam, mainly typhoons, flash floods, whirlwinds and landslides have left 119 people dead or missing, injured 144 others, and causing economic losses of 3,600 billion Vietnamese dong (158 million U.S. dollars), according to the country's General Statistics Office

Vietnam - 18 Dead or Missing as Floods Worsen

The flood situation in central Vietnam has worsened over the last few days, with disaster authorities now reporting that at least 18 people have died or are missing.

© Disaster Prevention Technology and Policy CenterFlooding on the Ky Lo river in Dong Xuan district, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam, 30 November 2021.

Flooding began after heavy rain from 26 November. Vietnam Disaster management Agency (VDMA), said heavy rain, flooding and landslides have affected the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Kon Tum, with 2,617 houses damaged and 2 fatalities.

As of 01 December, VDMA reported 18 fatalities or missing across the provinces of Binh Dinh (03), Phu Yen (10), Khanh Hoa (02), Kon Tum (01) and Dak Lak (02).

Furthermore almost 60,000 houses have been flooded in Binh Dinh (31,100) and Phu Yen (28,639). Some areas of Tuy Phuoc District in Binh Dinh Province were under water up to 1.2 metres deep. Around 66,000 students in the province could not go to school due to the floods.

Over 6,000 households have been evacuated due to floods or landslides in the provinces of Quang Nam (53 households), Binh Dinh (439), Phu Yen (5,517) and Khanh Hoa (21).

Roads, including several national highways, have been cut by flooding or landslides. Wide areas of agriculture along with livestock have suffered damage.

As much as 432 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 29 November in Song Tranh in Quang Nam. The following 24 hour period My Thuan Lake in Binh Dinh saw 368 mm and Ea Bar in Phu Yen 429 mm. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported flooding along the Côn river in Binh Dinh, the Ky Lo river in Phu Yen, and the Krong Ana river in Dak Lak. Further rain is expected in central areas.