Heavy downpours and flooding caused by a tropical depression over the past few days have wreaked havoc in central and northern localities, claiming the lives of at least 20 people.  Five were injured and at least 12 others are missing, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

The Thia bridge in Yen Bai Province collapsed due to heavy flooding. - VNA/VNS Photo The Duyet

“Rain levels in northern mountainous provinces were double the average.  The levels of 2,984 reservoirs from Ha Tinh Province to the north are at their limits.  20% are at risk of overflowing,” said Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control Wednesday.

“This is the highest rainfall we’ve seen for many years,” he said.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, water levels of reservoirs in central Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces will continue to rise.

The height of the Ma river in Thanh Hoa Province has risen to 7.5m, one metre above the alarm level.  The water is predicted to rise to the level of the historic flood of 1980, Hoang Duc Cuong, director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.

The agency also warned of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

Low-lying areas near rivers in Yen Bai and Phu Tho provinces are also at risk of flooding.  Mountainous provinces in the north like Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai are in danger of flash floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung urged the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control to take drastic measures to minimise damage to lives and property, while dealing with transport infrastructure affected by the landslides.

The priority is to evacuate residents out of risk-prone areas and search for missing people, he said while ordering safe operation of reservoirs and hydropower dams.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday also sent a document urging agencies and localities to take urgent measures to respond to heavy rain and floods and ensure safety measures for reservoirs.

Devastation counted

A total of at least 16 people are missing or dead in Tram Tau District, Nghia Lo Town and Van Chan District of Yen Bai Province.

As many as 230 houses in Van Tran, Tram Tau districts and Nghia Lo Town have sustained damage, some of which have collapsed. The provincial route from Nghia Lo District to Tram Tau District was congested due to flooding and landslides.

Thia Bridge in Nghia Lo Town collapsed on Wednesday.  Five people on the bridge were washed away, including a Viet Nam News Agency reporter working at the scene. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.

In Nghe An Province, at least eight people have died and are missing. At least 735 houses were flooded. More than 5,000 ha of rice and farm produce were inundated. Nearly 8,000 poultry have died. Local farmers lost 525ha of fish farms in total. The province has moved 154 households out of the flooded areas.

In Thanh Hoa Province, a house collapsed, killing 3 people in Thuong Xuan District.
A dyke in Te Nong Commune, Nong Cong District broke on Tuesday, leaving more than 100 locals isolated in the water. 

(Source: VNS)