Hanoi: The death toll from severe flooding in Vietnam's central region has risen to 13, with 11 people still missing, the government said Friday. The flooding, triggered by record rainfall, has left much of central Vietnam underwater for days, impacting several key cities.
According to Thai News Agency, the hardest hit areas include Hue, the former royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ancient town of Hoi An. Photos released by state media depict large sections of both cities flooded, with some homes nearly submerged to their roofs.
Vietnam frequently experiences severe storms and floods, particularly during the monsoon season from June to October. The country's disaster management agency reported that the floods have damaged more than 116,000 homes and 5,000 hectares (31,250 rai) of crops. Additionally, the floods have disrupted roads and railways, causing widespread traffic and power outages.
Reports indicate that heavy rain is expected to persist in central Vietnam, with some areas anticipating daily rainfall exceeding 500 millimeters from Friday morning until Saturday evening.