Heavy rains slam central province claiming 7 lives

Heavy rains have caused seven deaths, two injuries and left one missing in the central province of Binh Dinh.

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Heavy rains caused seven deaths, two injuries and left one missing in the central province of Binh Dinh as of 7am on November 11.

A duck farm in Phu My 2 Village, Phuoc Loc Commune, Tuy Phuoc District was underwater following the rains

According to the provincial board for flood and storm control-search and rescue, the flooding has brought about an initially estimated loss of VND500 billion (USD25 million) for the province. The inundation starting from November 2 has ruined 46 houses, serioulsy damaged 117 and put over 4,000 other houses in water. Damges have been estimated to be VND 500 billion.

The rains have affected thousands of hectares of rice and over 1,115ha of shrimp-breeding lakes. Thus far, 10 boats have reportedly sunk. Over 20 kilometres of canals broke; more than 2,000 metres of ditches were swept away; 47 wood and bamboo-made dams on rivers were swept away and six other spillways were seriously damaged. Up to over 12,500 kilometres of dykes were facing a high risk of collapse and a danger to local people.

Upstream water poured into branches of Con, Ha Thanh and La Tinh rivers, leading to flooding in communes in the eastern area near Thi Nai Lagoon. Many communes in Phu Cat District and suburban areas of Quy Nhon City are deep underwater as well.

Three important roads in the province, namely 640 from Tuy Phuoc Town to Cat Tien Commune; 636A and 636B from Go Boi (Tuy Phuoc) to La Nghi (Tay Son) have been flooded, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The rain has let up since the evening of November 10 however, the flood tide is sharply rising, slowing down the water drainage to the sea. Communes in the eastern area of Tuy Phuoc and Phu Cat communes are still soaked deep under water and completely separated. More than 4,000 households here have been living with water for a week.

The province’s board for flood and storm control-search and rescue has arranged storm-troops to be present at vulnerable areas to timely protect dykes and move local people to safety. Medical equipment and food supplies are also being delivered to isolated households.

Photos of rain-caused damages in Binh Dinh Province:

Road 640 from Tuy Phuoc Town to Cat Tien (Phu Cat) submerged underwater