Heavy rains are expected to fall in central Viet Nam next week, triggering new floods in a region already ravaged by natural disasters recently.

A man wading through floodwaters in front of his home in Binh Dinh Province. Photo by STR/AFP

According to the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, a low pressure zone is forecast to emerge in the southeast of the East Sea on 24-25 December. The low pressure zone is expected to head toward central Viet Nam.

The after-effects of the low pressure zone combined with cold winds from the north are forecast to cause heavy rains and fresh flooding in the region, the center said.

Recent floods in the region have already killed 26 people.

Another person remains missing and a further 16 were injured in floods that hit from 13-16 December. Over 100,000 houses were swamped while 570 were simply swept away or collapsed. Over 25,000ha (62,000 acres) of rice plantations were washed out, and dozens of thousands of cattle and died.

Multiple roads, bridges and buildings were also damaged in the floods.

(Source:VnExpress/International)