Heavy rains cause serious flooding in central region

Heavy rains over the weekend caused serious flooding across the central region with one person reportedly missing in Quang Nam Province after being swept away.

Since the morning of December 10, search and rescue forces have been seeking Mr. Ngo Binh, a 54-year-old resident in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province. Binh was reportedly missing after being swept away on the night of December 9.

The same day, many houses in Tam Ky City were submerged in 1.2m floodwater. Heavy rains also flooded a number of roads in Tam Ky, including a segment of National Highway 1A via the city.

Local traffic police asked drivers to temporarily stop to ensure traffic safety.

While inspecting the floods in the city, local authorities requested an urgent help to local residents to stabilize their life.

In the neigbouring city of Da Nang, various districts were inundated. A row of coastal restaurants in Ngu Hanh Son district have their foundation eroded. Meanwhile, other restaurants were forced to shut down and their staff was asked not to stay there.

Downpour also submerged Thanh Khe district, causing obstacles for people to access the municipal coach terminal.

The municipal steering committee assigned workers to be on duty around the clock to deal with the consequences of the flooding.

Floods in central region leave two dead, three missing

Two people were killed and three others were reported missing in the central region by recent flooding as of December 10, according to the Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. 

In Tam Ky City, Quang Ngai Province -- Source: VNA

The heavy rainfalls inundated over 4,640 houses, 9,074ha of rice and 918ha of vegetables, killed almost 16,300 heads of fowl and cattle, destroyed 47.4km of dykes and over 58.5km of roads.

Many households in Tam Ky city in the central province of Quang Ngai were 0.8-1.2m under water. 

The same day, 12 fishing vessels from the central province of Binh Dinh with 105 fishermen faced dangerous weather conditions near Hainan island of China. 

The Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department sent Diplomatic Note No.1361/CH-LS-BHCD dated December 10, 2018 to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to direct agencies concerned to create favourable conditions for 12 fishing vessels and 105 fishermen to shelter in safe areas.

Source: VNA