The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 40, with six people missing and 76 others injured, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) reported today.
Nearly 80,000 houses remain inundated, while 104 others were destroyed or swept away, and 453 were damaged. The floods have also submerged more than 10,800 hectares of rice and other crops, and over 68,500 livestock and poultry were killed or swept away. Power outages continue to affect more than 163,200 households, according to the report.
The severe weather began last weekend, with Vietnam’s coastal provinces battered by relentless rainfall. Up to 1.7 meters (5 feet 6 inches) fell over a 24-hour period spanning Sunday and Monday.
The fatalities occurred in Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Quang Tri provinces. Hoi An’s ancient town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been inundated with waist-deep water, forcing residents to navigate the city by wooden boats after a local river rose to a 60-year high.
