Floods claim the lives of 17 in central region

The current flooding in the central region so far has claimed the lives of 17 people, while two are missing and 14 have been injured since December 12, according to statistics from the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

In particular, Binh Dinh has been the hardest-hit with 11 people dead. Floods also damaged and submerged more than 100,000 homes, causing erosion and sedimentation in several national and provincial highways. Due to heavy rain, 16 hydroelectric reservoirs are discharging.

The Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control directed local authorities to urgently collect statistics on damages caused by floods, provide relief to people in disaster hit areas and facilitate environmental cleaning and disinfection after the flooding subsides.

Landslides caused by flooding in Ngoan Muc Pass through Lam Son Commune, Son Ninh District in Ninh Thuan Province. (Credit: NDO)

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on December 18, heavy rains with 20-50mm rainfall continued to rage in provinces from Ninh Thuan to Quang Nam.

Widespread flooding continued in Binh Dinh, while water levels declined in provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai and from Phu Yen to Khanh Hoa.

Rough seas with waves from 2-3m are forming off the South Central Coast and the centre of the East Sea.

Thai An Hamlet in Vinh Hai Commune of Ninh Thuan Province’s Ninh Hai District is still completely unreachable by road. (Credit: NDO)

Binh Dinh has received 4 tonnes of dry food from the Ministry of Defence and seven canoes, 70 sets of tarpaulins, 500 life jackets and 1,000 buoys from the General Department of National Reserves to provide to its locals in Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, Phu My and Phu Cat.

Binh Dinh’s people in flooded areas have also received relief worth approximately VND12 billion from relevant organisations and individuals.

The Ministry of Defence has provided 12 tonnes of dry food for locals in the two provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. Additionally, the Quang Ngai provincial Military Command sent four military medical teams to provide medicine worth nearly VND40 million to over 500 local people.

Quang Ngai sent 4,590 barrels of instant noodles, 4,150 barrels of drinking water and some other basic necessities for Tu Nghia, Nghia Hanh and Mo Duc districts.

Locals in Phong Dien District, Thua Thien-Hue Province receive financial support to overcome the negative impacts of the floods. (Credit: NDO)

Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces have also received 4 tonnes of dry food each from the Ministry of Defence.

Da Nang Military Command has displaced 33 households with 165 inhabitants in lowland areas in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District and Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District to a safe place.

Armed forces in Khanh Hoa also evacuated 36 households and 180 locals out of flooded areas.

Currently, rains have subsided in Thua Thien-Hue, making water recede on its rivers. The province continues to monitor the weather and make early warnings for citizens, as well as support them enhancing monitoring coastal erosion and the risk of dike breach.

Many local transport routes and houses are still inundated. (Credit: NDO)