Central region faces a combination of natural disasters, heavy rain and floods with unpredictable developments

Faced with the complicated developments of floods in the Central region, on November 15, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed a telegram from the Prime Minister on focusing on responding to and overcoming the consequences.

The dispatch reiterated the situation from November 12 to present, in the Central region, there has been prolonged heavy rain, causing flooding, landslides, property damage, affecting people's lives and production; especially in Hue city, Huong Tra town, Huong Thuy, ...

The Prime Minister requested localities to provide emergency food and necessities to households that had to evacuate due to floods, landslides, and deep inundation; not to let people go hungry, cold, or homeless; and not to let human losses occur due to carelessness or subjectivity.

According to VietNamNet reporters , from the night of November 14 to 15, floodwaters rose rapidly, surrounding and cutting off central roads in Hue City and several districts of Thua Thien - Hue Province. Many people had to rent boats and carry styrofoam boxes to swim in the water to get home.

the color of the sky.jpg — People travel by boat on the street in Hue City on the morning of November 15. Photo: Dinh Thanh

Even more heartbreaking was the death and disappearance of a mother and her child in a boat capsize in Hue City on the morning of November 15. At that time, 6 people from Huong So Ward (Hue City) went on a boat rowed by Ms. HTB (born in 1983) and her daughter NTH (born in 2005, both residing in Huong So Ward) to Phu Hau Market (Hue City) to buy food for storage.

On the way back, passing through Hau Dam area (in Huong Vinh ward), suddenly encountered strong flood water causing the boat to capsize, all 8 people fell into the flood water.

Authorities rescued six people, but Ms. HTB and her daughter were both missing. By early afternoon, Ms. B's body was found.

Floods surpass all response scenarios

On the afternoon of November 15, the working delegation of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control had a working session with the leaders of the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue province.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Hoang Hai Minh said that the forecast of rainfall during this period was not close to the actual situation. The locality had developed three response scenarios, but so far the flood situation has exceeded all scenarios. The amount of rainfall pouring into the reservoirs was very large.

buy can.jpg — Flood water rose 0.3 - 0.7m on central streets of Hue City on November 15. Photo: Dinh Thanh

Mr. Dang Van Hoa, Chief of Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, added that previously, the forecast from November 13 to 17 was for rainfall to range from 250-500mm, but extreme rainfall occurred, reaching over 800mm in 24 hours.

According to Mr. Hoa, if this amount of rain were to last for 3-5 days, it would be different. This is an extreme, unusual rainstorm, causing widespread and sudden flooding, the flow to the reservoirs is very large, and the frequency of flooding increases very quickly.

In the immediate future, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue province Hoang Hai Minh said that the direction and coordination with the Ta Trach irrigation reservoir management unit was carried out smoothly, contributing to the reasonable regulation of water resources, ensuring both flood control and dam safety.

The province is directing localities to focus on supporting people in deeply flooded areas according to the "4 on-site" motto, ensuring enough food.

the color of the sky qdnd.jpg — Hue City militia evacuates people in flooded areas to safe areas. Photo: People's Army

According to Chairman of Thua Thien - Hue Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong, this heavy rain has developed quite quickly , so the water level on Huong River and Bo River quickly reached above and below alert level 3.

The flood peak on the Huong River is showing signs of going down, but the flood on the Bo River is rising and is developing in a complicated manner.

“The most important issue for the province right now is the risk of landslides in mountainous areas, which is at a high warning level. The province directs localities to continue to review and evacuate people in vulnerable areas at risk of landslides to safe places,” Mr. Phuong emphasized.

A report from the Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue said that there are currently about 14,800 houses flooded to varying degrees.

In addition, also from the evening of November 14 to the morning of November 15, in Hoi An City ( Quang Nam ), the biggest flood since the beginning of the year occurred. People had to use boats to move, and the authorities set up barriers on deeply flooded roads.

That same afternoon, when the water on the Hoai River receded, people took the opportunity to clean up and push away mud to prepare to welcome tourists back.

Central region continues to have widespread heavy rain

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, today (November 16), the area from Southern Nghe An to Quang Binh will have moderate rain, heavy rain, and in some places very heavy rain and thunderstorms with rainfall of 30-70mm, in some places over 100mm.

During the day and tonight, in the area from Thua Thien Hue to Binh Dinh, there will continue to be heavy to very heavy rain with rainfall from 150-250mm, some places over 400mm; Quang Tri and the area from Phu Yen to Ninh Thuan will have lower rainfall, from 100-150mm, some places over 250mm. From November 17, heavy rain in these areas will gradually decrease.

In Thua Thien - Hue alone, the provincial Hydrometeorological Station said that in the past 24 hours (from 1:00 a.m. on the 15th to 1:00 a.m. this morning), the area had extremely heavy rain with rainfall of 100-625mm.

It is forecasted that from today to tomorrow (November 17), this area will continue to receive rain with an amount of 100-200mm, some places over 300mm. Of which, heavy rain is concentrated in Phu Vang, Phu Loc districts, Huong Thuy town with the highest level of over 320mm, followed by Phong Dien, Quang Dien districts, Huong Tra town and Hue city with the level of 300mm.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy (Huy Nguyen), an expert on climate change and natural disaster warning, said that heavy rainfall will continue in the upstream, midland and downstream areas of Thua Thien - Hue province on the night of November 15 and November 16.

buy and sell ndan.jpg — Many vehicles in the new urban area in Xuan Phu and An Dong wards (Hue City) were heavily flooded. Photo: Nhan Dan

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy, the water level downstream of Hue City and coastal districts is higher than the flood level in October 2020, and is higher than alert level 3. Special attention should be paid to the downstream area of Ta Trach Lake, which is Hue City. The water level of the Huong River can reach 4.3-4.4m (20-30cm higher than the flood peak in 2020), and even higher on November 16.

Updating the flood situation in the area early this morning, the Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Thua Thien - Hue province noted that from last night to this morning, the water level of the Huong River has tended to decrease. However, people should be careful not to lower their belongings because the water level may rise again today to tomorrow when heavy rain continues.

According to the 3:30 am bulletin this morning (November 16) of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the flood on the Bo River (Thua Thien Hue) has peaked and is slowly receding, the flood peak at Phu Oc is 4.99m (7:00 pm on November 15), 0.49m above alert level 3.

Currently, floods on rivers in Thua Thien Hue are receding and are at level above BĐ3; water levels on Vu Gia River (Quang Nam) and Tra Khuc River (Quang Ngai) are rising; rivers in Quang Tri, from Quang Nam to Phu Yen are fluctuating.

Specifically, the water level at 1:00 a.m. on November 16 on the rivers is as follows:

- Bo River (Thua Thien Hue) at Phu Oc 4.79m, on BĐ3: 0.29m;

- Huong River (Thua Thien Hue) at Kim Long 3.66m, on BĐ3: 0.16m;

- Vu Gia River (Quang Nam) at Ai Nghia 7.79m, below BĐ2: 0.21m;

- Tra Khuc River (Quang Ngai) at Tra Khuc 5.38m, on BĐ2: 0.38m.

It is forecasted that in the next 6 hours, floods on Vu Gia and Tra Khuc rivers are likely to peak, then slowly recede. The peak floods on Vu Gia and Tra Khuc rivers are above level 2, and floods on rivers in Thua Thien Hue continue to recede.

In the next 6-24 hours, floods on rivers in Thua Thien Hue, Vu Gia river and

Tra Khuc continues to fall; water levels of rivers in Thua Thien Hue fluctuate above level 2, Vu Gia river above level 1, Tra Khuc river below level 1.

Warning, from now until November 17, floods on rivers in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai are likely to rise again. Floods are likely to occur on rivers in Quang Tri, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. During this flood, the peak water level on rivers will be at level BĐ1-BĐ2, with some rivers above BĐ2.

There is a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, localized flooding in low-lying areas along rivers and urban areas in provinces from Quang Tri to Phu Yen. Solutions are needed to ensure safety for important small hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy recommends that during times of complicated flooding, anyone in a safe place should absolutely not go out unless it is really important.

- People who are sick or may be unconscious in the next few days should contact a professional rescue team.

- Students living in low-lying rented rooms with only one main exit should contact the landlord to move to a high-rise neighbor's house for temporary shelter.

- Do not rent a small boat to travel on rivers, flooded roads, or areas with large bodies of water.

- Service boat drivers who do not have life jackets for passengers should absolutely not take their boats out to transport passengers.

- If you see a boat without a life jacket, absolutely do not get on the boat no matter how urgent the matter is.

- Save water and necessities if you are short on necessities. Divide it up and use it at least until November 18.

- Save your phone battery to stay in touch with your loved ones and call for help when necessary. If you have a laptop at home, use it to charge your phone if it runs out of battery.

Chest-deep floodwaters, Hue City residents carry styrofoam boxes and swim home

Floodwaters rose rapidly, surrounding and cutting off central roads in Hue City and several districts in the province. Many people had to rent boats and carry styrofoam boxes to swim through the water to get home.

Thua Thien Hue floods exceed 2020 peak, Central region continues heavy rain

The Central region continues to experience prolonged heavy rains. In particular, floodwaters on the Huong River (Thua Thien Hue) are forecast to rise to 4.4m, 0.9m above alert level 3. Natural disasters in the Central region are still complicated.

Weather forecast November 16, 2023: The North continues to be cold, the Central region still has heavy rain . Weather forecast November 16, 2023, the North and North Central regions will turn cold again when receiving strong cold air. The Central region will continue to have heavy rain and a high risk of flooding and landslides. The South will have rain in the evening.

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