Northern Thai Nguyen Province is experiencing what local authorities described as “unprecedented flooding”, as heavy rain from storm Matmo’s circulation submerged entire neighbourhoods and forced thousands of residents to flee.
According to the Thai Nguyen People’s Committee, water levels on the Cau River peaked at 29.9 metres at around 3 am on October 8, surpassing the previous record of 28.81 metres set during storm Yagi in 2024. Floodwaters have since begun to recede slowly.
Torrential rain on October 7 caused the Cau River to overflow its dike, inundating wide areas in Phan Dinh Phung Ward and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Flood depths reached 2 to 3 metres in some locations, affecting hundreds of households.
By late evening, electricity was cut off across several wards, Phan Dinh Phung, Quyet Thang, Quan Trieu, Gia Sang, Tich Luong and Tan Cuong Commune, to prevent accidents as floodwaters submerged electrical equipment.
On social media, urgent pleas for help flooded in overnight from residents trapped in submerged houses.
Trinh Xuan Truong, Secretary of the Thai Nguyen Party Committee (centre), ordered the suspension of all official meetings to focus entirely on rescue operations and post-flood recovery. “After relocating residents from flooded areas, local authorities must ensure food, shelter and safety. No one should be left hungry or cold,” Truong said.
The provincial police have mobilised more than 5,000 officers and 2,000 vehicles to evacuate hundreds of families and deliver food and essential supplies to isolated communities.
Rescue teams from neighbouring provinces have also joined operations, sharing emergency hotlines and coordinating efforts on the ground.
Authorities in Hanoi's Huong Son Commune said that they would send over 100 boats to flooded areas in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh for rescue work.
As of 7 pm on October 7, storm Matmo’s aftermath had left three people dead in Cao Bang and Thanh Hoa due to landslides, and four missing in Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa due to flash floods. Over 4,800 houses across northern and central Vietnam were reported damaged.