HANOI: At least 10 people have died and eight are missing after catastrophic flooding hit Vietnam’s central coastal provinces this week, officials said Thursday, as water levels on a major river reached their highest in 60 years.
The floods, triggered by torrential rains since the weekend, have inundated more than 128,000 homes across five provinces, including Quang Nam, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Hoi An Ancient Town. In some areas, water reached depths of three metres, submerging ground floors of homes and shops.
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According to Vietnam’s environment ministry, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate, while more than 5,000 hectares of crops were destroyed and 16,000 cattle perished. Roads and bridges have been severely damaged by landslides, cutting off access to several communities.
The Thu Bon River, which flows through Da Nang and empties into the sea near Hoi An, recorded water levels of 5.62 metres late Wednesday — four centimetres higher than the record set in 1964, the national weather bureau reported. “I don’t think I ever experienced this prolonged and terribly high flooding in my life,” said Le Thi Thi, a 58-year-old resident of Da Nang.
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While floodwaters have begun to recede in some regions, forecasters warned that levels remain at “alarming” heights. Experts say climate change is worsening the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events. Vietnam recorded 187 deaths or missing persons due to natural disasters — mainly floods and landslides — in the first nine months of this year, with economic losses exceeding $610 million, government figures show.