Hanoi, Sept 18:
Heavy rain triggered widespread flooding across northern Vietnam on Thursday, submerging thousands of homes, disrupting transportation and forcing authorities to step up rescue and relief operations.
The disaster prevention department said several areas in northern and north-central Vietnam had received more than 50 cm of rain this week. Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces were among the worst affected.
More than 2,000 homes were submerged, while several major transportation routes were blocked. More than 1,000 households were also reported to be isolated because of rising floodwaters.
The floods have caused extensive damage to agriculture. About 10,014 hectares of rice and other crops have been submerged or damaged, with the largest losses reported in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. Thousands of livestock and poultry have also died.
In Hanoi, several streets were deeply flooded on Thursday morning, with water reaching nearly one metre in some locations. The flooding disrupted traffic and made it difficult for residents to travel to work and for children to attend school.
Several high schools and universities in Hanoi remained closed or shifted to online classes as heavy rain continued.
The rising Bui River in the southwestern outskirts of Hanoi also posed a threat to residential areas. Authorities deployed hundreds of soldiers to help residents move their belongings to higher ground.
The weather situation is expected to remain challenging. Forecasters have predicted widespread rain through September 21, while authorities have warned of further flooding in low-lying areas and along waterways.
Southern Vietnam is also expected to receive heavy rainfall, with Ho Chi Minh City forecast to receive between 10 and 20 cm of rain in some areas.