19 deaths reported as rain and flood still pounding central Vietnam

November 18, 2010 | 21:11
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Heavy rains have continued slamming the central provinces of Vietnam, killing 19 and leaving 6 unaccounted for as of 7pm on November 17.

According to the Central Board of Flood and Storm Control, Thua Thien-Hue suffered 7 deaths, followed by Quang Nam and Quang Ngai which both lost five people. Quang Tri and Binh Dinh have both reported one death.

Residents in Phuoc Hoa Ward, Tam Ky City must travel by boats

Tens of thousands of houses in flood zones are still under water and many localities in Quang Ngai are still isolated.

The centre said rains have continued in provinces from Quang Tri to Phu Yen but are easing. It also forecast that this weather would continue to be seen in the central region for the next day or two.

The board of flood and storm control, search and rescue of Quang Nam Province said that up to 1,200 houses have been submerged, mainly which are situated near the rivers of Thu Bon, Vu Gia and Ban Thach in Tam Ky City. Many households in Nong Son District are still 1-2 metres under water.

On November 17, rainfall decreased, but upstream water still down into rivers in mountainous Nam Tra My District, completely isolating many local communes for five days now. Flood water has also swept away equipment and machinery at construction sites and flooded over 25 ha of rice fields in the district causing a total estimated loss of VND10 billion ($500,000).

By November 17, 1,582 households with some 6,500 people, mostly in the districts of Dai Loc, Nong Son and Dien Ban had been relocated to safe places.

As for people in Thua Thien-Hue Province, this is a worrisome flood with very quickly rising water, which is similar to the province’s historic flood in 1999.

Nguyen Van Hiep, in Thuan Hoa B Village, Huong Phong Commune, Huong Tra District, said, “This flood is very strange. The water started penetrating the village at 6:00 p.m on November 15 and it rose very fast, similarly to the historic flood in 1999. About one hour later, water grew by over 20 cm. We had to put furniture higher to avoid water. At 12pm, the water rose to one metre. However, this evening (November 17) the water has climbed by nearly half a metre and finally it steadied. Today, the water has fallen by just 20 cm despite no rains.”

Mudslides are found at many roads in mountainous areas in Quang Nam

Photos of flooding in Thua Thien-Hue Province:

A road to Quang Dien District

Water nearly rises over the gate

Roads submerged

A man catching fish in his garden

Mother and child seek shelter on a roof

Chicken is also put on the roof

Many households seriously submerged

Motorboats are still the major means of transport in flood zones

An engagement party uses a boat (November 17)

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