Prolonged heavy rains have triggered widespread flooding in several parts of central Vietnam, killing at least one person, with thousands evacuated and more downpours expected this week.
Footage from the state broadcaster VTV showed people moving belongings and furniture out of flooded homes in Quang Nam province, with water gushing out of a damaged wall in one residence.
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In Quang Ngai province, where at least 4,500 people were evacuated at the weekend, children sat on a makeshift raft to move along one street as others waded through knee-deep floodwater, some pushing stalled motorcycles, Reuter reported.
A tropical low pressure system in the East Sea of Vietnam (South China Sea) is forecast to dump more rain in the southern-central coastal region, the government’s weather agency of Vietnam said.
Vietnam is prone to storms and flooding due to its long coastline. Natural disasters – predominantly floods and landslides from the storms – killed 378 people last year, according to Reuters
Last week, heavy rains caused landslides that blocked roads and destroyed bridges in several areas, slowing travel and isolating a number of settlements. At least 8 dead and missing after heavy rainfall.
Local governments must take precautions to safeguard dykes, reservoirs, and production activities, as well as sustain search and rescue operations, according to the agency.