15-10-2023 (HANOI) Tragedy has struck central Vietnam as two individuals lost their lives after being swept away by surging floodwaters. The region has experienced extensive flooding, with nearly 500 homes submerged in water over the past few days, as reported by Vietnam’s disaster management authority.
The coastal city of Da Nang has been severely affected by heavy rainfall, and the impact has extended from Ha Tinh to Quang Nam provinces since Tuesday. In the wake of the flooding, a 61-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy tragically drowned, according to state media outlet VnExpress.
As a response to the perilous situation, approximately 5,000 people were evacuated from their residences in Da Nang on Friday night and Saturday morning. One local resident, Dinh Thi Tu Uyen, recounted the distressing experience, stating, “The floodwater rose to my thighs, and all of my family had to move upstairs, before the rescuers came and evacuated us.”
Hue city, another affected area, witnessed roads submerged by the Perfume River, with water levels reaching nearly chest-high in certain locations. The flooding is attributed to heavy and persistent rain, posing substantial challenges for residents and local authorities.
Last weekend, northern Vietnam experienced the devastating consequences of flash floods and landslides, resulting in three casualties.
Unfavorable weather conditions persist, with forecasts indicating ongoing heavy rainfall across the central region of the Southeast Asian nation in the days to come.
Vietnam is no stranger to the harsh impacts of extreme weather events, primarily during the rainy season, which spans from June to November. The country has seen around 100 lives lost to natural disasters, including floods and landslides, since the beginning of the year, as reported by the country’s General Statistics Office.
Scientists have issued warnings about the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events globally, attributing this trend to the effects of climate change.
