Heavy Rains Batter Northern Vietnam, Leaving 3 Dead and 16,000 Homes Flooded

Northern Vietnam is grappling with extensive damage following recent torrential downpours. As of 5:30 p.m. on September 17, three people had died in a landslide in Da Bac Commune, Phu Tho Province. In Thanh Hoa Province, four houses collapsed and 29 were damaged. A total of 16,310 homes were inundated, including 8,419 in Thanh Hoa, 4,787 in Ninh Binh, 2,204 in Hanoi, 749 in Nghe An, and 151 in Phu Tho. Agricultural losses are also significant, with 22,499 hectares of rice, crops, and vegetables submerged and damaged. Aquaculture areas spanning 1,175.62 hectares were also affected. Approximately 1,999 meters of irrigation canals suffered erosion or damage, and 15 schools were flooded. Two incidents were reported on the dyke system, including erosion along a section of the Day River dyke in Ninh Binh and the overtopping of 1.4 kilometers of dykes and embankments in Hanoi's Xuan Mai and Kieu Phu communes. Local authorities have mobilized forces to address these situations. The heavy rain and landslides have severely disrupted transportation. Eleven landslide sites have blocked national and provincial roads, with four on National Highway 15C and three on National Highway 217. An additional 30 locations are inundated, causing severe traffic congestion. The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City railway was submerged by about one meter between Bim Son and Do Len, necessitating road transport for passengers through the flooded section. The National Steering Committee for Civil Defense has instructed ministries, sectors, and localities to enhance monitoring and take proactive measures against heavy rain, floods, flash floods, and landslides, particularly in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Phu Tho. Affected areas have been directed to urgently address the aftermath, monitor river levels, strengthen warnings about rapidly rising floodwaters and deep inundation, and evacuate residents from at-risk zones. Authorities have also been asked to maintain 24-hour duty to ensure timely information and coordination in disaster response. The meteorological agency urged local authorities to review vulnerable locations and potential flow obstructions and implement timely preventive measures. Vietnam's rapid economic growth in recent years has been accompanied by infrastructure development, yet its geographical location makes it susceptible to the impacts of climate change. This flood damage underscores the critical need for a balance between development, environmental conservation, and disaster preparedness. Under its one-party system, the swift directives from the central government and the execution by local authorities are key to mitigating damage, though the widespread impact on infrastructure presents long-term recovery and reconstruction challenges. Source: VnExpress International