Floods in central region kill 66

Union members clear mud and soil at a school following a flash flood in Quang Trach District in central Quang Binh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Hung

HA NOI — Flash floods in Central Viet Nam have claimed up to 66 lives, left 17 people missing and injured another 75, according to the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control.

And more heavy rain is forecast in the next few days due to a low pressure in the north of Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.

Quang Binh Province was hardest hit. Several districts were reported to be under water, including more than 6,300ha of residential areas. About 100,000 people are said to be suffering from a lack of clean water.

The province, which is already poverty stricken, is estimated to have lost nearly VND1.4 trillion (US$71.4 million).

Local authorities in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces have helped flood-hit residents by providing emergency health care. Their total losses were estimated to reach more than VND2.5 trillion ($127.5 million).

Tran Dinh Dung, from the Storm Prevention and Flood Control Committee of Quang Binh Province, said rescue teams had managed to supply food and clean water to victims in the submerged districts of Minh Hoa, Bo Trach and Quang Ninh.

"More food is needed then work will begin on cleaning out hundreds of wells," Dung said.

More than 1,000 soldiers and volunteers have been mobilised to repair homes, clean wells and sanitation systems in the worst affected areas in Huong Khe District in Ha Tinh Province.

During the past three days, more than VND20.8 billion ($1.07 million) has been donated to support the central region.

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre said a low pressure system would bring heavy rainfalls to the southern provinces. Coastal areas from central Binh Dinh to southern Kien Giang provinces would experience heavy downpours. Whirlwinds and strong wind gusts are also likely. — VNS

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Floods kill 52, more relief aid on its way

Central provinces have reported that as of October 8, torrential rains and flash floods had killed 52 people and left 24 others missing.

The disaster claimed 36 lives in Quang Binh province, eight in Ha Tinh, five in Nghe An and three in Quang Tri province.

It also left 17 people missing and injured 44 in Quang Binh province, the hardest hit area.

The Prime Minister has approved emergency relief aid of 100 billion VND and 1,000 tonnes of rice for both Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces.

Deputy Prime Minster Hoang Trung led a delegation to visit the flood-hit provinces, asking them to focus on restoring the region’s essential infrastructure and help local people to rebuild their houses and get back to normal.

On October 7, an overseas Vietnamese from Australia , who was born in Quang Binh province, presented 300 gifts worth a total 100 million VND to people in Vo Ninh commune in Quang Ninh district.

Hanoi will not have fireworks displays at 29 locations around the city on October 10 as part of the planned activities to mark its millennium birthday and will donate the expenditure to flood-hit victims in the central provinces .

The city’s authorities have also called for more relief aid from individuals and organisations to help the central provinces overcome the disaster./.

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