Over 4,200 Hectares of Rice Fields Flooded in Ca Mau Due to Prolonged Heavy Rains and Storms

In Ca Mau province, located in Vietnam's southern Mekong Delta region, prolonged heavy rains and strong winds from September 19 to 25 have caused widespread flooding, submerging over 4,200 hectares of rice fields and severely impacting residents' livelihoods. According to the Ca Mau Provincial Office for Disaster Prevention and Civil Defense, the recent rainfall affected 12 communes across the province. Of the flooded rice fields, 119 hectares suffered catastrophic damage, while 157 hectares of vegetable fields were also submerged, with over 30 hectares damaged. Additionally, 22 hectares of aquaculture farms and 5.6 hectares of perennial crops were affected, and approximately 400 chickens were lost. Infrastructure also sustained damage, with three houses completely collapsing, one severely damaged, and 75 households experiencing indoor flooding. Around 19.5 kilometers of roads and dikes were inundated, and 50 meters of riverbanks and dikes eroded. Local authorities are currently collaborating with police, military, youth union members, and local residents to provide assistance to affected communities. Efforts include clearing debris, reinforcing houses, relocating belongings, and conducting temporary repairs on landslide sites. They are also operating drainage pumps, guiding residents on dike reinforcement, clearing waterways, and advising early harvesting of mature rice fields. From January 1 to September 25 this year, Ca Mau province has experienced multiple natural disasters, including strong winds, riverbank erosion, high tides, and lightning strikes. These events have resulted in two deaths, nine injuries, and an estimated total damage of approximately 31 billion Vietnamese Dong (around $1.3 million USD). Specifically, strong winds caused over 6 billion Dong in damage, and riverbank erosion led to approximately 10.9 billion Dong in losses. The Ca Mau Provincial Hydro-Meteorological Station reported rainfall ranging from 80-130 mm during the recent downpour, with some areas exceeding 150 mm. Although rainfall has shown a decreasing trend since September 24, moderate to heavy rain is still possible in the northern and western parts of the province over the next two days before weather conditions stabilize. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City has reported 50 locations experiencing significant flooding of over 30 cm for more than 30 minutes during heavy rain, with numerous other areas reporting milder flooding. Source: The Saigon Times