26-9-2023 (HANOI) Torrential downpours unleashed havoc in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces in central Vietnam on Tuesday, leaving villages in remote areas completely cut off. Quang Binh, renowned for housing the world’s largest cave Son Doong, bore the brunt of heavy rainfall caused by a tropical depression that persisted from Monday night through Tuesday morning.
In the aftermath of the deluge, routes linking villages and communes in Minh Hoa, Tuyen Hoa, and Quang Ninh districts were submerged under 1-2 meters of water. Moreover, rockslides exacerbated the situation, resulting in traffic congestion on National Highways 15 and 9B.
The Quang Binh Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search, and Rescue reported that thousands of families in 18 villages found themselves marooned by the floods, with boat travel being the only means of transportation available to them. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, local authorities collaborated with border guards to assist dozens of affected families in relocating to shelters, along with their belongings.
Meanwhile, in Ha Tinh Province to the north of Quang Binh, the Ngan Sau River bridge in Huong Khe District became submerged under a meter of water at certain points on Tuesday. Authorities responded swiftly by erecting warning signs to deter people and vehicles from attempting to traverse the area. Consequently, the Huong Khe District Department of Education and Training had no choice but to suspend classes for over 4,000 students ranging from kindergarten to secondary level.
As the relentless rains persisted, rockslides occurred on National Highway 8A in Huong Son District. Massive boulders and soil cascaded down the mountain slopes, obstructing traffic in the region. Prompt action was taken by local authorities, who deployed personnel and heavy machinery to clear the road of debris by noon.
Although the tropical depression weakened and moved towards Laos on Tuesday morning, its lingering weather system continued to generate widespread rainfall. Meteorologists from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicted rainfall levels between 200-450 mm on Wednesday for localities stretching from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh. Regions further south, from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, were expected to experience rainfall levels ranging from 50-150 mm. Additional areas in south-central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and southern Vietnam were forecasted to receive rainfall levels between 40-80 mm.
