Nghe An: 5 dead and missing due to floods.

(Baonghean.vn) - Due to the impact of storms and heavy rains over the past few days, many districts have experienced heavy rainfall, causing river levels to rise, resulting in flooding and landslides, causing 3 deaths, 2 missing persons, and damage to many areas of crops and houses.

* According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quy Chau DistrictBy the morning of September 14th, most communes in the area had been affected by flooding. In Chau Hoi commune, one person was found buried alive; five houses were swept away or collapsed in Chau Hoi and Dien Lam.

National Highway 48, passing through Chau Hanh commune (Quy Chau district), is flooded with more than 40cm of water, causing traffic congestion.

According to preliminary statistics, currently more than 368 hectares of rice fields have suffered damage of less than 30%, with Chau Binh and Chau Hanh being the most severely affected; more than 13 hectares of corn and vegetables have been damaged; more than 400 meters of canals have collapsed, been damaged, silted up, or eroded; 30 meters of the Hat River dike have completely collapsed; and 230 waterwheels have been swept away. Chau Nga commune is currently completely isolated, and contact cannot be made to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Cong Kien - Thanh Quynh

* In Que Phong, according to the latest update, there are currently 2 people missing due to the storm.

According to Mr. Quang Van Toan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Ngoc commune, the heavy rain on the evening of September 13th caused the water level in the Nam Giai River section passing through the commune to rise, resulting in one person being swept away by the water.

The deceased has been identified as Mr. Vi Van Kinh from Don Cham village, Muong Ngoc commune. Mr. Kinh, 83 years old, was staying in his family's makeshift shelter next to the Nam Giai River on the night of September 13th. During a heavy rainstorm, the river suddenly rose, sweeping away the entire shelter and the family's crops. Currently, the district and commune authorities, along with the family, are actively searching for his body.

Floodwaters have cut off many roads in Que Phong.

In Nam Nhong commune (Que Phong district), another person has gone missing due to being swept away by floods. The victim is Luong Van Thang, originally from Tuong Duong province, who was residing in Tri Le commune. On September 13th, he and a friend went to Nam Nhong commune to visit. At 2 AM on September 14th, while returning home and crossing the Nam Nhong bridge, the water level rose. His friend started the motorbike and shone a light to help Thang cross.

However, due to the rapidly rising water, his friend was unable to cross and remained on the other side of the flooded bridge. When Thang was not seen by early morning, his friend reported the incident to the Nậm Nhóng commune authorities. The Nậm Nhóng commune authorities are currently mobilizing search and rescue forces.

Due to continuous heavy rain, water levels in streams rose rapidly, isolating the communes of Chau Kim, Tien Phong, Muong Ngoc, Que Son, Quang Phong, Cam Muon, and Nam Giai. Many households in these communes had to evacuate starting around 2 am this morning, September 14th.

The power grid in Quy Chau - Que Phong was completely paralyzed due to fallen trees damaging power lines and poles in low-lying areas, and the internet was also completely cut off. The Chau Tien - Quy Chau bridge section, the only road leading to Que Phong district, was flooded. The water only receded at 1:30 PM on September 14th, allowing traffic to resume and electricity restored to the main road, but many remote and rural communes remain without power. The Hua Na hydropower plant remains safe; however, machinery and vehicles at the Nhan Hat hydropower plant were swept into the middle of the river by the floodwaters.

Given the complex developments of the storm situation, local authorities are urging residents to strictly heed warnings, refrain from fishing, avoid staying in makeshift shelters, and evacuate urgently from dangerous areas.

Thuy Hang - Hoang Tim (Que Phong Radio Station)

*Also due to the impact of the storm, the river water level rose in Thanh Chuong town.At 9 PM on September 13th, Mr. Trinh Van Dao, a resident of Block 15, born in 1986, drowned while fishing in the Gang River, near Yen Thuong Bridge, bordering Thanh Ngoc commune.

Tornadoes caused extensive damage in Thanh Chuong.

Earlier, at 8 PM on September 13, 2016, Thanh Chuong district experienced thunderstorms accompanied by tornadoes, causing damage to people's property and crops.

The tornado injured one person, destroyed 26 houses (due to fallen trees), severely damaged 42 houses (roofs blown off), severely damaged one market (roof blown off), collapsed 145 meters of brick fence (50 meters at Dang Thai Mai Secondary School), collapsed 100 meters of irrigation canal, and swept away 10 temporary bridges.

In Ngoc Lam commune, the Hai Lach bridge was eroded at both abutments, and 100 meters of the water pipeline of the Tram Hong dam were swept away by the water.

In Thanh Yen commune, the unfinished construction of the Luong - Yen - Khai dike has blocked drainage ditches and culverts through the dike, causing localized flooding in many areas. This has flooded over 25 hectares of ripe rice, many areas of summer-autumn vegetable crops that are ready for harvest, and newly planted areas, and has also flooded 12 households in Yen Phu and Yen Binh villages.

Many houses had their roofs blown off.

Residents of Thanh Chuong district are working to overcome the aftermath of the tornado.

Regarding agricultural production, the floods inundated: rice: 500 hectares, corn: 150 hectares, various types of beans: 450 hectares, aquaculture: 650 hectares; 35,000 trees of various types were broken or uprooted. The total estimated damage caused by heavy rain and strong winds is approximately 3.33 billion VND.

Leaders of Thanh Chuong district inspect the damage caused by the tornado.

To promptly address the consequences, on the morning of September 14th, the district leaders organized numerous working groups to visit Thanh Xuan, Ngoc Lam communes, and other heavily damaged areas to direct the recovery efforts.

The immediate focus is on repairing houses, cleaning up the aftermath of the storm, stabilizing people's lives, organizing the harvesting of rice and other crops to prevent flooding, and local authorities must be on duty 24/7 to direct flood and storm prevention efforts. Relevant agencies and localities are required to strengthen prevention measures and educate people not to go to rivers and streams to collect firewood, graze cattle, fish, or engage in any other activities near rivers and streams, as the water level of the Lam River and other rivers and streams is rising rapidly.

Tran Dinh Ha

* Latest update on the storm situation inIn Nghi Loc district, one person died after being struck by lightning.The victim has been identified as Ms. Nguyen Thi Tinh, born in 1969, residing in Hamlet 2, Nghi My Commune.