Heavy rainfall on Thursday caused widespread flooding in some areas of northern Vietnam, disrupting transportation, submerging homes, and raising the levels of several rivers to dangerous heights.
Flood Damage
According to officials and state media, these rains in northern and central northern Vietnam have brought over 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) of rain in some areas. More than 2,000 homes have been submerged, many transportation routes have been blocked, and over 1,000 households have been completely isolated. The provinces of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa, which include low-lying and mountainous areas south of the capital Hanoi, are among the hardest-hit regions.
Impact on Daily Life
In Thanh Hoa province, officials have instructed students to refrain from going to school due to the flood risk. Heavy rains and flooding have led to the submergence or damage of about 10,014 hectares (24,745 acres) of rice and other agricultural products. The most significant damages have been reported in the provinces of Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An. Additionally, thousands of livestock and poultry have also been lost.
In Hanoi, many streets were severely flooded on Thursday morning, with water levels reaching nearly one meter (3.2 feet) in some areas, disrupting traffic and making it extremely difficult for residents to move around.
Rainfall from Wednesday night to Thursday morning reached over 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in some areas. Many high schools and universities in Hanoi were either closed or switched to online classes on Thursday. Furthermore, rising waters of the Buoi River in the southwestern suburbs of Hanoi threaten to flood homes, and officials have dispatched hundreds of soldiers to assist residents in moving their belongings to higher ground.
A cold air mass moving south is expected to bring heavy rains to southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, the financial capital of Vietnam, starting September 17. Forecasts indicate that widespread rainfall will continue until September 21, and officials have warned of the flood risk in low-lying areas and along waterways.
Source: abcnews.com
