Floods surround the Central region

Thanks to prior preparation, people in the Central region were not surprised by the major flood from October 26.

Hue suffered historic flooding, many roads were submerged, people had to travel by boat in the middle of the city - Photo: NHAT LINH

However, heavy rain caused flood water to rise too quickly, causing landslides and deep flooding in many areas.

Rare flood in 20 years

In Hue City, heavy rain lasted less than 24 hours but the communes and wards in the city center such as Phu Xuan, Thuan Hoa... were deeply flooded. Many main roads in the central wards and communes such as Le Quy Don, To Huu, Nguyen Hue... were deeply flooded.

Many local residents said that in the past 20 years, the water level has rarely risen so quickly. Le Van Cuong (student of the University of Science - Hue University) said that the water level rose so quickly that many people were surprised.

"The water level keeps rising. Many of my friends have to wade through the water to buy more instant noodles and dry bread because the weather forecast said the flooding will last for several days," Cuong said.

According to the Hue Civil Defense Command, by the afternoon of October 27, the water level on the Bo River had exceeded its historic flood peak. The rising water level left people, especially the sick, the infirm, and the elderly, unable to react. The military and police forces assisted the elderly and the sick and evacuated more than 2,000 people to safety.

Mr. Phan Thien Dinh, Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, said that he has requested local leaders to urgently deploy support for people's evacuation according to the approved plan, prioritizing ensuring safety for vulnerable groups.

Source: Department of Irrigation and Climate Change, Hue City - Information: NHAT LINH

National highway flooded, highway landslide

On October 27, National Highway 1 through Huong Tra Ward, Hue City was flooded for 1km, causing local traffic congestion. To direct traffic through the flooded area, traffic police set up checkpoints to direct cars, light trucks, and low-chassis vehicles to go towards the North-South Expressway.

Meanwhile, extremely heavy rain in Bach Ma National Park also caused water to overflow the La Son - Hoa Lien route. The flood water carried away rocks and soil, causing the route to be blocked. Notably, on the La Son - Hoa Lien highway, through the old Hoa Bac commune ( Da Nang ), cracks of tens of meters appeared, with many spots of rocks and soil overflowing onto the roadside, with a high risk of landslides.

According to records, this crack was caused by a landslide at the foot of the highway (Route 601) due to heavy rain in recent days. Also on this highway, many points showed signs of landslides causing rocks and soil to fall onto the roadside.

At steep slopes, rainwater continues to flow down the hillside, forming deep gullies. Some areas have long cracks that could potentially continue to slide down if the rain continues.

Floodwaters flooded Hue Central Hospital with serious severity - Photo: G.HUY

Landslide buries houses

In Da Nang City, heavy rain and landslides swept away the house of Mr. Le Ngoc Hung (51 years old) and his wife in Doc Cho area, Tra Tan commune.

The entire two solid wooden houses, livestock, more than 43 million VND in cash, 2 taels of gold and many other valuable assets of the family were swept away and buried under the rocks and soil. Fortunately, there were no human casualties. The authorities of the mountainous commune of Tra Doc also evacuated more than 600 people in areas at risk of landslides and flash floods to safety.

On the afternoon of October 27, floodwaters on the Vu Gia River (through Dai Loc Commune, Da Nang City) submerged many houses. At the Ai Nghia intersection, the water was so deep that traffic was paralyzed, the worst being the area in front of Ai Nghia Market.

The DT609 route to the center of Dai Loc commune, which is a "flood center", was swallowed by water. In Ha Nha commune, many roads were flooded, three residential areas were isolated, and more than 140 households had to evacuate because their houses were flooded.

According to statistics, by October 27, the highland communes south of Da Nang (Bac Tra My and Nam Tra My districts, former Quang Nam province) recorded 30 landslides, 13 flooding points, and 1 residential area with 2,700 people in Tra Leng commune was isolated. Currently, military units, police, and local authorities of the communes have evacuated nearly 1,600 people to safety.

Landslide on DT602 road, soil and rocks from the positive slope slid down, sweeping away part of the road surface and protective railing - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

Military Region 5 established a forward command post in Tra My.

On the afternoon of October 27, many human resources and vehicles from units of Military Region 5 gathered in Tra My commune (Nam Tra My district, former Quang Nam province) to be ready to respond to storms.

According to the Military Region 5 Command, the frontline command for natural disaster prevention and search and rescue was established and stationed in Tra My commune. The command mobilized 19 vehicles of various types: information vehicles, tractors, excavators, kitchen vehicles... along with 2,453 people from military and local forces.

The leaders of Military Region 5 Command said that they are ready with human resources and means to help people in the disaster area. Currently, Military Region 5 is also mobilizing forces to open roads to access isolated residential areas in villages 3, 4, and 5 of Tra Leng commune.

On October 27, thousands of officers and soldiers of Military Region 5 in Da Nang and Quang Ngai were mobilized to help people fight floods. At the spillway of Hoa Tien commune, nearly 100 officers of the Da Nang City Military Command were on duty in the rain to collect trash and trees blocking the flow.

Meanwhile, in mountainous communes, local units also directly went to residential areas to help people evacuate their belongings and property out of dangerous areas.

Lo Xo Pass paralyzed

In Quang Ngai, more than 100 cars and trucks were stuck on National Highway 14, passing through Lo Xo Pass. Large and small landslides occurred consecutively on October 26 and 27, paralyzing traffic through Lo Xo Pass.

Currently, the Quang Ngai provincial traffic police have deployed forces to block 24/24 hours at the foot of the pass to regulate traffic and guide vehicles to move in another direction to continue their journey. With the "dilemma" of hundreds of people and vehicles on Lo Xo pass, local people have donated necessities, cooked food and waded through landslides to the pass to supply.

According to Road Management Area III (Vietnam Road Administration), Lo Xo Pass currently has seven serious landslides and is at risk of further landslides. This unit has mobilized vehicles, equipment, materials and human resources to clear mud, fix the problem, and strive to clear the route. However, due to heavy rain and unfavorable conditions for landslide repair, the route has not been cleared yet.

According to a quick report, landslides are occurring all over Quang Ngai, in which Dak Plo commune had to urgently evacuate 1,500 people because landslides and flash floods could occur at any time. Dozens of mountainous communes in Quang Ngai province such as Xop, Tay Tra, Thanh Bong, Son Ha... reported landslides threatening many roads.

Mr. Do Tam Hien, Vice Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, said: "The situation is very tense, with heavy rain and unpredictable developments as the land is saturated with water after several days of heavy rain. Currently, the plan to ensure the safety of people's lives is given top priority. The province directs all communes to grasp the area and not be passive."

Trucks lined up through a flooded area on Highway 1 through Hue City - Photo: HOANG TAO

Heavy rain continues from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that from today until the end of October 29, in the area from southern Quang Tri to Da Nang and eastern Quang Ngai province, there will continue to be heavy to very heavy rain with common rainfall in southern Quang Tri and eastern Quang Ngai province from 200 - 400mm, locally over 700mm.

Hue and Da Nang will have widespread rain ranging from 300 - 500mm, locally over 800mm. The area from Ha Tinh to northern Quang Tri will have moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms with widespread rainfall ranging from 100 - 200mm, locally over 350mm. Warning of the risk of heavy rain over 200mm in three hours.

On the night of October 29 and 30, in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the east of Quang Ngai province, there will be moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms with common rainfall from 50 - 100mm, locally very heavy rain over 200mm. From the night of October 30, heavy rain will tend to decrease in the south and gradually move to the north of the Central region.

Visitors take shelter from the rain on the Japanese Covered Bridge - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

Floods attack Hoi An ancient town

Due to prolonged heavy rain, many streets in Hoi An ward (Da Nang city) were deeply flooded, forcing residents and tourists in flood-prone areas to evacuate by boat.

The water level on the Hoai River began to rise rapidly from the evening of October 26. Currently, streets such as Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi, Bach Dang, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa, Hoang Van Thu... in Hoi An ward are deeply flooded. Especially in An Hoi quarter, the streets of Nguyen Hoang, Nguyen Phuc Chu, La Hoi are flooded 1.5 - 2m deep, in some places over 2m.

Many hotels and homestays used boats to take tourists to safe areas. Many restaurants and hotels proactively raised refrigerators, goods, tables and chairs to avoid damage. In some areas isolated by floodwaters, authorities were present, organizing the evacuation of residents and tourists by boat to safety.

Police forces in Nong Son commune moved people's belongings and property to a safe place - Photo: MANH TRUONG

The Prime Minister requested that people not be allowed to go hungry, cold, or lack clean water.

In the dispatch dated October 27 on focusing on emergency response and overcoming the consequences of heavy rain and floods in the Central region, the Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Ngai provinces to deploy forces and means to control, guide, support traffic, arrange rescue forces, especially in places at risk of being cut off and isolated due to landslides and floods to be ready to respond when bad situations occur.

Based on the specific situation in the locality, decide to let students stay home from school and implement measures to ensure people's safety.

Focus on directing, urgently organizing visits, encouraging and promptly supporting people in damaged areas with food, water, medicine, and essential necessities. Absolutely ensure that people do not go hungry, cold, lack clean water, or do not receive medical support when sick.

Deploy the work of protecting dykes and dams according to the alarm level. At the same time, closely monitor and actively coordinate with the functional agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the operation of irrigation and hydroelectric dams in the area to ensure scientific and safe operation of the works and contribute to flood reduction and flood control for downstream areas.

"Immediately after the flood recedes, it is necessary to urgently mobilize forces to carry out environmental sanitation, disinfection, and disease prevention. At the same time, support people in repairing their houses, quickly restoring production, especially agricultural production, and soon stabilizing their lives. The highest priority must be given to ensuring safe conditions for students to return to school and providing health care and medical examination and treatment for the people," the Prime Minister requested.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with the industry and trade sector and localities to direct the safe and effective operation of the inter-reservoir system, absolutely not allowing unsafe dams to occur. The Minister of Industry and Trade directed to ensure the safety of hydroelectric dams, power systems and industrial production, and limit damage caused by floods.

The Minister of Construction directed the immediate implementation of response solutions, protection of works and traffic infrastructure, and ensuring traffic safety, construction activities, especially safety for people and vehicles at construction sites of expressways during the period affected by floods.

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CENTRAL REPORTER GROUP - CHI TUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lu-bua-vay-mien-trung-20251028073107113.htm