Over recent days, deadly floods have hit the central region provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Quang Nam and have caused extensive damage to local people and their property.

A bus struggles along a flooded road in Binh Dinh Province (Photo: VnExpress)

According to the Central Region Natural Disaster Mitigation Bureau, the provinces experienced heavy to very heavy rain between 30 November and 3 December.  In particular, rainfall of 438mm was reported in Quang Nam Province’s Tra My District, 446mm in Quang Ngai Province’s Minh Long District, and 389mm in Binh Dinh Province’s An Hoa Commune. The recent prolonged heavy rain, plus water being discharged from hydropower reservoirs, has resulted in severe flooding and extensive damage across the central region.

According to the latest figures, floods have claimed 6 lives in Binh Dinh and 4 in Quang Ngai.  In addition, 3 injuries were reported in Binh Dinh, and one person in Quang Ngai is missing. 

A total of 50 houses in Binh Dinh and one in Quang Ngai were completely destroyed, whilst 48 others were badly damaged.  In addition, 10,116 houses in the region were submerged, and dozens of intra-provincial transport routes were blocked due to flooding.  At least 9,782 hectares of rice and 2,790 hectares of vegetables have been inundated, whilst 72,597 pots of flowers and ornamental trees in Quang Ngai Province were damaged.

In Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces, 713 cattle and over 18,000 poultry died after being swept away by the fast-flowing floodwaters.  Six irrigation dams and a bridge have collapsed. 

The Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydrometeorology Forecasting has recently warned of heavy to very heavy downpours for parts of Da Nang, and elsewhere in the central region from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai provinces, until 8 December due to the effects of cold air moving down from the north.

In the next 24 hours, Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces will experience moderate and scattered rain with rainfall between 10 and 30mm.  Meanwhile, the rainfall in the provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai will be between 100 and 200mm from 6 - 8 December.  Coastal localities in the region are expected to experience north-easterly winds at level 5/6, sea waves from 1 to 2m high, and rough seas.  Coastal provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoa are likely to face severe flooding from 5 - 9 December.