The Heavy Rains in Central Vietnam: A Tale of Landslides and Deep Floods

Heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding in the provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, with numerous roads submerged and landslides reported in mountainous districts. In Thua Thien Hue, authorities have issued a warning of potential flash floods and waterlogging in urban areas and low-lying regions.

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In Nghe An, on the afternoon of the 23rd of September, according to the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control, Search and Rescue, and Civil Defense, the impact of Storm No. 4 caused heavy rains in the province from the 17th to the 22nd of September.

Currently, many roads in Vinh city are deeply flooded, with traffic being paralyzed in several sections. Numerous households have had to evacuate as their homes were inundated.

On the morning of the 23rd of September, major roads such as Lenin Boulevard, Nguyen Van Cu, Quang Trung, and Phan Chu Trinh in Vinh city were deeply flooded.
Many families in Ben Thuy ward, Vinh city, are moving their belongings to higher ground to avoid flooding. Photo: Nguyen Nguyen

The continuous heavy rains triggered landslides in Que Phong district, with rocks and mud flowing down and damaging houses in several communes, including Thong Thu, Cam Muon, Tri Le, and Quang Phong.

On the afternoon and evening of the 23rd of September, Que Phong district, in coordination with relevant forces, continued to evacuate 26 households (126 people) from dangerous landslide-prone areas. These included 16 households in Thong Thu, 5 in Tri Le, 2 in Cam Muon, 1 in Hanh Dich, and 2 in Quang Phong. The district authorities promptly relocated people and their assets to safer locations.

The floods also caused significant losses of livestock, crops, and transportation infrastructure. Landslides and flooding occurred in multiple locations along National Highway 48 and provincial and district roads, prompting local authorities to station personnel and erect warning signs.

Functional forces of Nghe An province evacuate people to safety. Photo: Cahm Hue

In Thanh Chuong district, the floods caused isolation and inundation in several communes, including Thanh Xuan, Thanh Tung, Ngoc Lam, Thanh Lam, Hanh Lam, and Thanh Duc. In particular, three villages in Thanh Xuan commune were cut off, with hundreds of households affected.

In Con Cuong district, the local government evacuated 55 households with 220 people from flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to safer locations. National Highway 7, which passes through the district, experienced serious landslides in Doc Cho, with rocks and trees falling onto the road in Vuc Bong.

In Tan Ky district, the local authorities relocated 25 households from areas prone to landslides. In districts such as Dien Chau, Huong Son, Hung Nguyen, and Anh Son, the floods also caused inundation in multiple locations. The floods in the province during these days claimed three lives and forced the evacuation of hundreds of households to safer places.

In Ha Tinh province, heavy rains caused deep flooding in several roads in Ha Tinh city, including Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Nguyen Huy Tu, Ly Tu Trong, and Phan Dinh Giot, disrupting traffic. The situation also led to localized flooding in several low-lying communes of Huong Son district, such as Son Giang, Son Trung, Quang Diem, Son Bang, Son Phu, Son Tien, An Hoa Thinh, Kim Hoa, and Pho Chau town.

The continuous heavy rains in the afternoon and evening of the same day also caused landslides in the area of “7-story slope” in Son Kim 1 commune. Due to the complex situation of floods, more than 5,600 students in 17 schools in Huong Son district had to take a day off. In Huong Khe district, due to localized flooding, students in some schools also had to take a day off. On the morning of September 23, although the schools maintained normal teaching and learning activities, more than 3,300 students had to take a day off, mainly kindergarten and primary school students.

At about 8 am on September 23, at Km 81+750, about 100m away from Co Gai strait (National Highway 8A section towards Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh province), a landslide occurred. The volume of fallen soil and rocks was estimated at about 500 cubic meters, and many large trees fell and blocked the road, paralyzing traffic.

Checkpoint on the road to Cau Treo Border Gate due to landslide

Earlier, in the morning of September 20, at Km58+600 on National Highway 8A, a landslide also occurred, causing soil and rocks to fall onto the road. Upon discovery, the road management unit coordinated with the local authorities to set up warning signs for people and vehicles and organized the clearance of the fallen soil and rocks.

In Thua Thien – Hue province, according to the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control, and Search and Rescue, from the evening of September 22 to September 24, there will be rain, scattered moderate rain, heavy rain, and thunderstorms in some places. Total rainfall for the period is expected to range from 50 to 150mm, with localised rainfall of over 250mm.

Additionally, several areas in the province, including Phong Dien, Phu Loc, Nam Dong, and A Luoi, are at high risk of landslides. Heavy rains may also cause localized flooding in urban and low-lying areas, as well as landslides and landslides of soil and rocks in hilly and mountainous areas and along small rivers and streams. Potential locations for landslides, road and riverbank collapses, and coastal erosion have been identified and warned against.

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