Central Vietnam floods: Thousands evacuated amid intense rainfall

In a tragic turn of events, two individuals, including a 61-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy, succumbed after being engulfed by surging floodwaters in central Vietnam, as cited by the prominent state media outlet, VnExpress. Amidst persistent torrential downpours that began last Tuesday, the coastal metropolis of Da Nang and regions spanning from Ha Tinh to Quang Nam provinces have witnessed extensive flooding.

The calamity led to the inundation of close to 500 houses, as per the records of Vietnam’s Disaster Management Authority. Da Nang’s citizens faced the brunt of the natural disaster, with approximately 5,000 inhabitants urgently relocated during the hours of Friday night and early Saturday. Recounting the harrowing experience, local resident **Dinh Thi Tu Uyen** revealed to VnExpress the rapid escalation of floodwaters within her residence, prompting emergency evacuations led by rescue personnel.

Furthermore, Hue city suffered extensive waterlogging as the Perfume River overflowed its banks on Friday. The deluge transformed several city roads into veritable rivers, with water levels perilously rising to near chest-deep levels in specific regions.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t Vietnam’s first brush with extreme weather-induced casualties. A mere week prior, the northern parts of the nation reported three fatalities arising from sudden flash floods and devastating landslides.

Forecasts paint a grim picture, anticipating an unrelenting barrage of heavy rainfall across the central territories of this Southeast Asian country in the upcoming days. With the rainy season typically stretching from June through November, Vietnam remains vulnerable to the wrath of the elements. The country’s General Statistics Office notes that the death toll from natural disasters, encompassing floods and landslides, has approximated a staggering 100 since the start of the year.

The alarming frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events aren’t unique to Vietnam. Global scientific communities continually highlight the exacerbation of these phenomena, attributing them to the overarching implications of climate change.