Sam Son Beach Submerged by Flood Debris After Heavy Rains

Sam Son beach in Vietnam's central Thanh Hoa province is overwhelmed by a massive amount of debris washed ashore by recent floods. Heavy rains have caused the Ma River to overflow, carrying trees, branches, and household waste that now blanket over 3.5 kilometers of the coastline. The accumulation, estimated in the thousands of cubic meters, includes logs, bamboo, vines, plastic bottles, styrofoam, and fishing nets. Local fishermen are struggling to access their boats, with some areas used for mooring completely covered. Many have resorted to hiring excavators to clear paths to the sea. Some residents are seen collecting larger pieces of driftwood for firewood. Nguyen Minh Tam, Vice Chairman of Sam City People's Committee, acknowledged that such debris accumulation is a recurring issue during major floods but noted the current scale is significant. The local authorities are assessing the volume and mobilizing personnel and machinery for cleanup, estimating it will take at least a week to clear, depending on the weather. Sam Son's geographical location south of the Ma River estuary makes it susceptible to receiving large amounts of natural and man-made debris during significant flood events. Similar, though less severe, situations have been reported at Hai Tien beach. The recent floods have impacted Thanh Hoa province broadly, submerging over 8,400 homes and damaging numerous roads. Rainfall has since decreased, and water levels are receding, allowing residents to return to their homes to begin post-flood recovery and environmental cleanup. Information Source: VnExpress