Prolonged heavy rains caused by a tropical depression flooded many areas in central Quảng Trị Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyên Lý

HÀ NỘI — At least four people have been killed and eight others remain missing in central localities after torrential rains brought by a tropical depression have stricken the region over the past few days.  

Flash floods triggered by heavy rains claimed two lives in Quảng Bình Province while one person is still missing and another injured as of Wednesday morning, according to the latest report from the provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue.

The province has evacuated residents in areas at high risk of flash flooding and landslides to safer places. More than 1,000 local households were submerged and isolated due to floods.

Rising waters in Quảng Ninh and Lệ Thuỷ districts flooded hundreds of hectares of crops.

Landslides were recorded along some sections of National Highway 12A, 15 and 9B. Local authorities are mobilising forces to clear the roads to prevent traffic congestion and accidents.

Authorities in Nghệ An Province have reported that two people were killed and over 2,000ha of crops damaged.

Torrential rains from August 31 to September 4 prevented nine people in Hà Tĩnh from going home. Two of them have been contacted, but 7 others are missing.  

Rains damaged more than 1,000ha of crops in Hà Tĩnh while destroying many roads and bridges and flooding tens of communes of the province.

Quảng Trị Province’s authorities yesterday reported that nearly 700 households were submerged. The authorities moved more than 1,000 households with over 4,000 people in the hardest hit areas to safer places.

Central localities and relevant agencies have been told to stay alert as a tropical depression is moving near the coast, about 200km to the east-northeast of Quảng Trị and Quảng Ngãi provinces yesterday morning.
The call was issued at a meeting yesterday of the standing board of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, due to the tropical depression, central provinces from Nghệ An to Quảng Nam have seen heavy rains, while the Tonkin Gulf and waters off the central coast from Quảng Trị to Quảng Ngãi provinces will experience strong winds and high waves.
The tropical depression is one of two heading to Việt Nam.
The other one has since weakened into a low pressure system and is gradually dissipating.
Deputy chief of the steering committee’s office Vũ Xuân Thanh also asked the national committee for search and rescue to work with the border guard and fishery inspection forces as well as local authorities to conduct searches for three missing fishermen whose vessel sank on Monday while seeking shelter.
The Border Guard Command reported that the force had contacted 71,462 vessels with 317,654 persons on board to inform them of the route of the tropical depression. — VNS