Prolonged heavy rains during the past three days have caused serious flooding and landslides in parts of central Viet Nam and the Central Highlands, leaving at least one person missing.

A vegetable garden is submerged by floodwater in Don Duong District, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong

Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces allowed students to stay off school to avoid the flood.

Many areas along rivers in Khanh Hoa were submerged including Vinh Phương, Vinh Trung and Vinh Thai communes, Nha Trang City, Van Ninh District and Ninh Hoa Town.

Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces have evacuated more than 400 households with more than 1,700 people to safety.

Flashfloods on Sunday night swept away one person in Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa Province. The victim is still missing.

Khanh Hoa Province on Monday morning discharged water from reservoirs to regulate flood levels.

Flood also submerged roads and isolate different communes in Nha Trang City and Dien Khanh District.

Severe heavy rains yesterday afternoon caused landslides on the Highway 27C connecting Nha Trang City and Da Lat City, causing more than five-hour-long traffic jams.

About 2,000sq.m of soil and land slid on the Khanh Le mountain pass. Authorities have since cleared some of the debris and the highway is open for one-way traffic.

It is forecast that Thua Thien-Hue and Khanh Hoa provinces and several places in the Central Highlands area will have strong rains today. The water level in rivers from Quang Nam to Khanh Hoa provinces will continue to rise for the next week.

The Ve River in Quang Ngai Province will rise to the third level – the urgent alarming level, whereas the Tra Khuc River in Quang Ngai Province, Thu Bon River in Quang Nam Province, Kon River in Binh Dinh Province and Dinh River in Khanh Hoa Province will be at the second alarm level.

Mountainous districts should be vigilant for flashfloods and landslides.

Source: VNS