Water levels have receded, but many homes along the Cai Phan Rang river in Ninh Phuoc Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, remain deeply flooded. - Photo: VNA/VNS
HANOI: Relentless floods across the central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam have caused exceptionally severe damage, leaving 102 people dead or missing (up by 34 from the day before), with thousands of homes inundated or destroyed, according to disaster authorities.
A report from the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention, updated at 7am on Sunday (Nov 23), shows 90 confirmed fatalities and 12 people still unaccounted for, a significant increase compared to 24 hours before – Saturday (Nov 22) morning updates had the toll at 55 deaths and 13 missing.
Dak Lak Province has suffered the worst losses, with 63 deaths and eight missing.
Khanh Hoa has reported 14 deaths and two missing, while Lam Dong has recorded five fatalities. Other localities with human losses from the floods include Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Danang and Gia Lai.
Medical workers in Gia Lai spray disinfectant in the residential area near Dinh market in Quy Nhon Dong Ward, Gia Lai Province. - Photo: VNA/VNS
Initial economic losses are estimated at VNĐ9.035 trillion (nearly US$343 million), roughly the same as the day before, though authorities expect the figure to rise as assessments continue when floods have eased.
Heavy rain continues in several areas, as forecasters expect very heavy rain in Hue, Danang and eastern Quang Ngai Province from Nov 23 to 25, with totals of 60 to 120mm and, in some areas, more than 250mm.
Rivers in Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and the Dong Nai basin are receding but remain high.
Flooding continues in parts of Dak Lak, where four communes and wards, including Hoa Xuan, Dong Hoa, Hoa Thinh and Hoa My, remain underwater. Khanh Hoa still has 87 households in Dien Dien and Hoa Tri affected, and Lam Dong reports 127 inundated homes in Nam Da and Cat Tien.
Police forces travelling in boats in Dak Lak Province to bring food supplies to residents in deeply flooded areas along the Banh Lai river. - Photo: VNA/VNS
Damage to housing is extensive. A total of 1,154 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, with Lam Dong accounting for 825 of them.
Up to 185,733 homes had been flooded at the peak, including around 150,000 in Dak Lak, though updated figures have reduced this by 50,000 after verification.
Agriculture has taken a massive hit, with 80,825 hectares of rice and crops and 117,067 hectares of perennial plants ruined. More than 3.23 million livestock and poultry have died or been swept away. The aquaculture sector has lost 1,157 hectares of ponds and cages, mostly in Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa.
Transport networks remain fragmented. While National Highway 1 has reopened, 12 locations on other highways are still blocked by landslides or deep water.
People travel by boat through flooded streets in Ninh Phuoc commune, Khanh Hoa Province. - Photo: VNA/VNS
Six railway sections remain closed. Electricity outages have affected more than 1.17 million customers since the start of the disaster; around 258,000 still have no power.
Telecommunications losses include 552 BTS stations offline.
Provinces are urgently requesting relief supplies. Gia Lai has asked for 2,000 tonnes of rice, 3,000 kg of Chloramine B and 100,000 Aquatabs tablets.
Dak Lak is seeking 2,000 tonnes of food, large quantities of water-treatment chemicals, medical kits, 5,000 social assistance packages and support to restore agricultural production, including seeds, livestock and essential farm inputs. - Vietnam News/ANN
