Heavy rain lasting for several days has caused severe flooding, affecting thousands of households in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces, forcing students to suspend classes.
On the afternoon of October 18, the Quang Binh Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue reported that the prolonged rain and flooding over the past two days have submerged 24 communes with nearly 1,400 households affected. Among them, Le Thuy district has nearly 1,200 households inundated by 0.2-0.5 meters, while Bo Trach district has 155 households submerged by 0.3-1.2 meters.
In an interview with a reporter, Mr. Dang Dai Tinh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Le Thuy district, stated that the flooding has caused approximately 1,200 households in the communes of An Thuy, Lien Thuy, Hong Thuy, and the town of Kien Giang to be deeply flooded, making transportation difficult, and requiring residents to travel by boat.
“Houses are flooded up to 0.5 meters, and some roads are nearly 1 meter deep, isolating various areas. Local authorities have mobilized forces to assist residents in evacuating to safe places and moving their belongings to higher ground to minimize damage,” Mr. Tinh said.
Residents of Le Thuy district (Quang Binh) have to use boats to move. (Photo: H.P).
The flooding has also caused many locations along National Highways 15, 9B, and Provincial Road 559 to experience landslides and inundation, leading to traffic congestion. Authorities have reported at least 39 high landslide risk points across 7 districts and towns, and over 500 households with 1,900 residents have been relocated to safety. Additionally, over 300 meters of the Nhat Le sea embankment in Dong Hoi City have been damaged by waves.
Over the past two days (October 17-18), two individuals in Quang Binh have gone missing due to the flooding. Among them, Mr. N.V.D. (51 years old, residing in Ham Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district) disappeared while checking his shrimp pond by boat, and Mr. H.V.S. (24 years old, residing in Truong Xuan commune, Quang Ninh district) went missing while setting traps in the forest.
According to the Quang Binh Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, from the early morning of October 16 to 4:00 AM on October 18, the province recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall, measuring between 250-600 mm. Water levels on the Gianh River exceeded alert level 1, while the Kien Giang River surpassed alert level 2.
Dong Ha City (Quang Tri) deeply flooded on the night of October 17. (Photo: Q.D).
In Quang Tri, heavy rain has persisted for three days (October 15-18), with rainfall ranging from 200-350 mm, and some areas exceeding 400 mm, causing river levels to rise and flooding many low-lying areas, isolating transportation routes.
In the early morning of October 18, rising water levels in the Thach Han River caused many riverside roads in Quang Tri town to be deeply flooded, preventing vehicles from passing. Provincial roads leading to communes in Trieu Phong district were submerged by 0.5 meters, causing isolation. Authorities had to place warning signs prohibiting residents from traveling.
Previously, on the night of October 17, prolonged heavy rain caused several national highways, urban roads, and residential areas in Dong Ha City to be deeply flooded, resulting in many vehicles breaking down. As of now, the rain has decreased, and floodwaters in Dong Ha City have receded.
Flooding has caused many houses in the downstream areas of Cam Xuyen district (Ha Tinh) to be deeply inundated. (Photo: P.T).
In Ha Tinh, heavy rain has lasted for three days (October 16-18), combined with the controlled flood discharge from Ke Go Lake and other irrigation lakes, leading to localized flooding in several communes in the downstream areas of Cam Xuyen, Ky Anh, and Thach Ha districts.
To ensure the safety of students, starting on the morning of October 18, the Ha Tinh education sector has suspended classes for 76 schools (46 kindergartens, 18 primary schools, and 12 secondary schools) with nearly 39,000 students due to the flooding.
Additionally, 14 high schools in the area have switched from in-person learning to online classes due to the flooding.
“Depending on the developments of the flooding and natural disasters, schools will organize for students to return to classes according to plan,” a representative from the Ha Tinh Department of Education and Training informed.
