Heavy downpours and subsequent floods have wreaked havoc in central Vietnam, leading to the deaths of five local residents and the disappearance of four residents, according to the latest report released on December 12.

A vast area of plants and crops is under water in Quang Tri Province's Trieu Phong District 

Eight fatalities were announced at 13:10 today in the central provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, while the two missing people were residents of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.

Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of Phu My District’s People’s Committee in Binh Dinh Province, today confirmed the bodies of three people, who were washed away by the floodwaters, had been found. The deceased were identified as Tran Van Dien, 31, and his wife, Le Thi Phuong Anh, 27, and Vo Dong Hoang, 46.

Meanwhile in Quang Nam, a militiaman was found dead due to exhaustion after prolonged exposure to floodwaters while rescuing and evacuating people in flood-hit areas in Tam Thang Commune, Tam Ky City, according to Chau Thanh Phong, chairman of the commune’s government, who confirmed this news to Tuoi Tre Online.

The victim was identified as Truong Van Duoc, 30, a resident of the commune’s My Cang Hamlet. When he returned home after the rescue effort at around 23:00 yesterday, the floodwaters were still very high. His neighbors found him dead on the floor this morning.

Until December 10, floods and torrential rains had submerged over 20,000 houses in the central region. More than 1,800 houses in Quang Nam had to be quickly evacuated, and the operations of nine schools in Quang Ngai and Quang Tri were affected.

As for the impact on farming activities, more than 7,800 hectares of paddy fields and plants were damaged. More than 60,000 cattle and poultry are dead and have been washed away in the floodwaters. Further, over 10,000 meters of coastlines and river banks are eroded, while 14 dams have suffered damage.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, central provinces stretching from Nghe An to Quang Ngai may see medium to heavy rains, with rainfalls fluctuating between 40mm and 70mm later today, triggered by intensified cold air masses.

The region from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai will likely see rainfalls measuring 70mm-120mm, and even exceeding 150mm in some areas.

SGT/VNA