(VOV) - Over the past few days, heavy downpours have caused floodwaters in central provinces to rise quickly, forcing thousands of local residents to evacuate to safe areas.
More than 8,000 households living in flooded areas have been evacuated 5,000 in Quang Tri, 1,500 in Thua Thien-Hue, and 1,300 in Quang Binh.
Many sections of key arteries in Quang Ngai were covered in mud and soil, interrupting traffic to neighbouring provinces. Rising floodwaters in Mo Duc district had left tens of pupils and local residents stranded. By the evening of October 17, canoes were mobilised to transport them to safe areas.
In Quang Binh, floodwaters submerged thousands of households in Le Thuy and Quang Ninh district and cut mountain communes in Minh Hoa district off from the rest of the province.
Cao Van Luc, chairman of people’s Committee of Tan Hoa commune in the Minh Hoa district told VOV that local authorities were prepared to move residents living in low-lying areas to higher ground.
Overnight torrential rains flooded several sections of National Highway 1A running through Quang Binh’s Le Thuy and Quang Ninh districts. The provincial police were on duty throughout the night at temporary checkpoints erected to guide vehicles into Ho Chi Minh National Highway. Food and drinking water were supplied to passengers stranded along the road.
“We have dispatched four teams to clear traffic on the highway…… We try to ensure no one will be left hungry,” said Colonel Tu Hong Son, Director of the Provincial Police.
Rising floodwaters also threatened local people in Da Nang City. Torrential rains caused the major rivers to swell up quickly, flooding many parts of the city. Thousands of households in Hoa Vang district along the Tuy Loan River were inundated, about 2m under water. Students were ordered to stay indoors.
Floods have so far claimed 9 lives in the central region.