The death toll from a new barrage of torrential rain, flooding and landslides in central Vietnam since the weekend has risen to 41, state media reported yesterday, with water levels rising further in already inundated towns and villages.
Rainfall exceeded 1,500 mm in several parts of central Vietnam over the past three days.
The region is home to a key coffee production belt as well as the country’s most popular beaches, but is highly prone to storms and floods.
A suspension bridge on Da Nhim River in Lam Dong province was swept away yesterday morning, VietnamNet newspaper reported.
A video clip showed the bridge being swallowed by the river in just a few seconds.
More than half a million households and businesses faced blackouts after power grids were damaged by the floods, according to the government.
Traders said the floodwaters were hampering the coffee harvest in the region.
The national weather forecast agency warned of more flooding and landslides to come today, with heavy rain set to continue in the region.
Photographs shared in state media reports showed residents, including children, sitting on the roofs of flooded houses and calling for help via social media platforms.
“Any group out there please help! We’ve been sitting on the roof since 10pm last night, including kids and adults,” a resident of Khanh Hoa province posted on a local Facebook page.
Alongside the post was a photograph of a group of people sitting on the metal roof of a flooded house as the rain lashed down.
The photos also showed several residential areas in Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces submerged in deep water.
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