Record rains drive flooding in Vietnam, submerging ancient city

In some parts of central Vietnam, especially in Hue, a former imperial capital, and Hoi An, a historic town, record-breaking floods have fallen.

More than 1, 000 millimeters (39.4 inches) of rainfall fell in parts of Hue and Hoi An on Tuesday, according to Vietnam’s disaster management agency, over a 24-hour period ending late on Monday.

Hue’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported the highest volume of rainfall in a 24-hour period since Vietnam’s first record-keeping began.

According to the newspaper VNExpress, the Huong and Bo rivers’ water levels, which flow through Hue, reached a height of 5.25 meters (17.2%) on Monday afternoon, surpassing the previous historical high recorded in 2020.

Both rivers’ water levels have cooled as of Tuesday morning, but Hue continues to be submerged in more than one meter (3. 3 ft) of water.

Images showed murky waters over a large portion of the ancient city, including the palace grounds.

According to Hue authorities, the rain and flooding may continue until Friday, according to state news agency Vietnam News.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted the area its status as a world heritage site in 1993.

About 1,700 people were left isolated in coastal Quang Ngai province after a massive landslide of red mud on Tuesday morning, which was 3 kilometers (1. 9 miles) long, according to authorities.

More than 8,600 people were evacuated on Tuesday in four central provinces because of the potential for severe flooding and landslides.

The state-run Vietnam Railways Corp was forced to halt travel between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the capital, due to severe flooding.

In a separate report, the government claimed that more than 306 000 people’s homes and businesses in Hue, Danang, and Quang Tri provinces were experiencing blackouts.

According to scientists, as the planet warms due to human-induced climate change, storms are getting stronger.

The country was ravaged by Typhoon Bualoi in September, which caused at least 13 fatalities and 20 missing people.