The Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting has warned of moderate to very heavy downpours for parts of Da Nang, and elsewhere in the mid-central region, until 18 December due to the effects of cold air moving down from the north. 

A section of the DH409 road under water

It is predicted that rainfall in the localities from Quang Tri to Phu Yen will be between 200 and 400mm per day.   Also, these localities are likely to face flash floods and severe flooding over the next few days.  

The prolonged torrential rain, plus a large volume of water being discharged from hydropower reservoirs, has resulted in severe flooding and extensive damage across the central region.

In Da Nang’s Hoa Vang District, as of Thursday, a total of 275 houses in the communes of Hoa Lien, Hoa Tien, Hoa Phong and Hoa Nhon were submerged in floodwaters of about 50cm.  Also, 24.6 ha of vegetables and 132 ha of winter-spring rice crops were under water. 

Some parts of the ADB5 and DH409 streets in Hoa Tien Commune were blocked due to flooding.  In particular, a section of the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway which runs through the Hoa Tien Commune was also were heavily flooded.

Some inundated houses in Hoa Tien Commune

Mrs Nguyen Thi Boi from Hoa Lien Commune’s Quan Nam 3 Village said yesterday, “I was unable to get out of my house as water had reached the courtyard”.   Meanwhile, other local residents are now busy removing their furniture and belongings to safety in case their houses become submerged in floodwaters.

It was reported that reservoirs at the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant discharged water up to 2,566 m³/sec into the Thu Bon River, whilst Song Bung No 4 released 1,610 m³/sec into the Vu Gia River in accordance with the national government-approved water discharge regulations.

On Thursday, Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh urged the district authorities to make every effort to safeguard the safety of their citizens.

Top priority should be given to evacuating residents from low-lying areas areas at high risk of severe flooding, flash floods and landslides.   Special attention should be paid to ensuring that sufficient vehicles are available to carry residents from flood-hit areas to safe shelters in a timely fashion, as well as to guaranteeing sufficient supplies of clean water and food relief for those stranded in areas which have been isolated by the flood. 

Vice Chairman Minh also suggested that pupils in Hoa Vang District should be allowed to stay at home until the floodwaters recede.

Employees from the city’s Irrigation Exploitation and Management Company must be on duty around the clock at local reservoirs in order to check their operation and deal with any unexpected incidents.