Vietnam's Central Region Paralyzed by Record Rainfall

Vinh City in central Vietnam's Nghe An province was hit by torrential rain on September 19, breaking the 41-year record for September rainfall. Within a six-hour period from 7 AM to 1 PM, the city recorded 399mm of precipitation, leading to severe flooding in urban areas and causing numerous vehicles to stall. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting stated that the heavy rainfall was caused by a combination of weak low-level northeasterly winds, the northern edge of a tropical convergence zone, and high-altitude easterly disturbances, creating a convergence of winds over a narrow area in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. Historically, the previous September daily rainfall record for Vinh City was 387.9mm on September 10, 1985. The all-time daily record was 710mm on October 16, 2019, but the recent event highlights a significant short-term downpour. Heavy to very heavy rain, with amounts exceeding 200mm in some areas, is forecast to continue in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces from the evening of September 19 to the morning of September 20. Moderate to heavy rain, with localized downpours exceeding 100mm, is also expected in areas from Quang Tri to Hue. The flooding in Vinh City has significantly impacted daily life and transportation, with authorities working to manage traffic in inundated areas. The meteorological agency has warned of potential flash floods in low-lying areas, urban centers, and industrial zones, as well as landslides in mountainous regions. The incident underscores the vulnerability of Vietnam's rapidly developing urban areas to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, highlighting the critical need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster preparedness. Source: The Saigon Times