Residential areas in Hoài Ân District, Bình Định Province, are isolated by flood water. VNA/VNS Photo

CENTRAL REGION – Four people have died after heavy rain and floods hit the central and central highlands regions over the past few days. 

Bad weather also destroyed 25ha of rice, the Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search-Rescue reported.  

Two women were swept away by flood water in Kon Tum and Bình Định provinces.

They have been identified as Y Hong, born in 1968, from Tây Nguyên and Đinh Thị Đách, born 1956, from An Lão District.

Two other women in the M'Drak District, Đắk Lắk Province, were also swept away by heavy floods. Authorities have so far only recovered one body.

On Sunday afternoon, a local woman fell into the fast-flowing water while driving a motorbike across the bridge in Krông Jing Commune, Đăk Lắk but fortunately, the authorities reached her in time and pulled her to safety.

So far 182 families have been evacuated to safe areas in Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Bình Định. More than 2,600 homes have been inundated with flood water, the most in Bình Định.

Chairman of the M'Drak District People's Committee, Phạm Ngọc Thạch, said water levels in rivers and streams had risen considerably, and the Committee did their best to warn the community of the severe weather conditions ahead of time. 

Heavy rains from November 27-29 caused flooding in the districts of Tuy Phước, Phù Cát, Vân Canh, Hoài Ân, An Lão, and An Nhơn Town, Quy Nhơn City.

Many residential areas in Tuy Phước District were isolated and in some areas, residents could only travel by boats.

Đào Đức Tuấn, Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training said that students in Tuy Phước, Phù Cát, Hoài Ân districts and Hoài Nhơn Town could not attend school on Monday.

From the Monday night to Tuesday morning, heavy rain continued to occur, with the risk of flash floods, landslides and inundation in the central provinces from Thừa Thiên-Huế to Ninh Thuận, and the Central Highlands provinces of Kon Tum and Gia Lai.

Rainfall in Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Bình Định was recorded in some areas at the 300mm and in Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận and the Central Highlands region, up to 130mm of rainfall was recorded.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control warned that authorities should inspect and review areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides, and proactively implement plans to ensure safety of the dyke systems and reservoirs.

Localities were also on standby to send rescue forces if needed. VNS