Dozens dead in Vietnam after tropical depression triggers flooding
Officials in Vietnam warned on October 12 that severe flooding in northern and central parts of the country could worsen in the coming days, as the death toll from floods and landslides rose to 46.
Flooding and landslides unleashed by a tropical depression are being blamed for killing at least 46 people across Vietnam.
Tropical Depression 23W moved into north-central Vietnam during the early morning hours of Tuesday, local time. Despite not becoming a tropical storm and acquiring a name, the depression still turned deadly.
Torrential rain accompanying the depression inundated the country, especially across northern and central areas. At least 46 people are dead with 33 others missing.
"In the past 10 years, we haven't suffered from such severe and intense floods," Reuters cited the country's agriculture minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong as saying.
Residents wade through flood water in northern province of Son La, Vietnam Thursday Oct. 12, 2017. (Huu Quyet/Vietnam News Agency via AP)
In the vicinity of where the depression moved inland, the city of Vinh reported 261 mm (10.28 inches) of rain in the 24 hours ending on Tuesday evening. Another 58 mm (2.28 inches) followed the next day.
Similar rainfall totals were recorded farther to the north in Thanh Hoa.
More than 34,000 homes have been submerged or damaged, while roughly 317 homes have collapsed, Reuters reported.
The country’s agricultural industry also suffered with more than 8,000 hectares (nearly 20,000 acres) of growing rice submerged and damaged. Around 40,000 animals perished or were washed away.
Officials opened eight gates at the Hoa Binh dam to discharge water, a move that has not been done in years. The dam is Vietnam’s largest hydroelectric dam.
On the heels of the depression’s deadly flooding, budding Typhoon Khanun is expected to take aim at northern Vietnam early next week.
In addition to damaging winds, heavy rain accompanying the storm will threaten more lives and property by exacerbating the flood and landslide dangers.
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