Record-Breaking Floods Hit Central Vietnam

Heavy rainfall has triggered record-breaking floods in Hue, a former imperial capital, and the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam. The disaster management agency recorded over 1,000 millimeters of rainfall in a 24-hour period in parts of Hue and Hoi An, marking the highest ever recorded rainfall for a 24-hour period in the country. Water levels in the Huong and Bo rivers, which flow through Hue, reached 5.25 meters, shattering the previous historical high recorded in 2020. The area, a world heritage site since 1993, remains submerged by over one meter of water, with authorities warning that the rain and flooding may last until Friday.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 8,600 people in four central provinces were evacuated due to risks from severe flooding and landslides as of Tuesday.
• Heavy flooding has forced the state-run Vietnam Railways Corp to suspend services between the capital Hanoi and the business hub Ho Chi Minh City.
• More than 306,000 households and businesses in Hue, Danang, and Quang Tri provinces were suffering from blackouts, according to the government report.
• A massive landslide of red mud occurred in coastal Quang Ngai province, isolating about 1,700 people.
• The floods have triggered a national record of 1,000 millimeters of rainfall in a 24-hour period in Hue, the highest ever recorded rainfall since the country started its record-keeping.
• The area, a world heritage site since 1993, remains submerged by over one meter of water, with authorities warning that the rain and flooding may last until Friday.
• The heavy rain also comes after Typhoon Bualoi battered the country in September, leaving at least 13 people dead and 20 others missing.
• Scientists warn that storms are becoming increasingly powerful due to human-induced climate change.