Vietnam floods submerge thousands of homes as heavy rain batters north
Heavy rain across northern Vietnam has submerged over 2,000 homes, damaged thousands of hectares of crops and disrupted travel in Hanoi and nearby provinces.
Heavy rainfall across northern and north-central Vietnam has triggered widespread flooding, submerging more than 2,000 homes, blocking key transport routes and isolating over 1,000 households, authorities said on Thursday.
Some areas have recorded more than 50 centimetres (19.7 inches) of rain this week, according to the disaster prevention department. Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces, which span lowland and hilly terrain south of Hanoi, are among the worst affected.
In Thanh Hoa, officials directed students to remain at home after flooding made travel to school hazardous. Floodwaters have submerged or damaged about 10,014 hectares (24,745 acres) of rice and other crops, with the heaviest losses reported in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Thousands of livestock and poultry have also been killed.
"The flood happens every year," Ninh Binh resident Tran Ngoc Tai told national broadcaster VTV, adding that residents had stocked up on fresh water and food.
In Hanoi, many streets were deeply flooded on Thursday morning, with water reaching nearly a metre (3.2 feet) in some places. The deluge disrupted traffic and made it difficult for residents to commute, take children to school or leave their homes. Rainfall from Wednesday night to Thursday morning exceeded 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) in some areas.
Several high schools and universities in the capital remained closed or shifted to online classes on Thursday afternoon. Along the Bui River on Hanoi's southwestern outskirts, rising waters threatened homes, prompting authorities to deploy hundreds of soldiers to help residents move belongings to higher ground.
Vietnam is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries and is regularly prone to flooding. A series of severe storms last year pushed the country to explore new ways of preparing for and managing floods.
Forecasters warn that a cold air mass moving south is expected to bring five days of heavy rain to southern Vietnam, including the flood-prone financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, starting September 17. The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre predicts widespread rain through September 21, with Ho Chi Minh City forecast to receive 10 to 20 centimetres (4 to 8 inches) and some areas more. Authorities have cautioned against flooding in low-lying areas and along waterways.