Deluge sparks widespread flooding in south-central Vietnam
Sunday, December 30, 2018, 14:15 GMT+7
Torrential rains in the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen triggered widespread flooding that wreaked havoc on crops and seriously disrupted traffic on Saturday.
Around 5,000-7,000 hectares of rice paddies there were inundated following a deluge lasting from the dawn of Friday to the morning of the following day, according to Phan Trong Ho – director of the local agriculture department.
All rice seeds that had been sowed two to seven days earlier were at enormous risk of being damaged as the affected region’s terrain hampers rapid floodwater recession, Ho said.
Local authorities on Saturday advised farmers in other vulnerable areas against planting rice grains as heavy rain might persist in the disaster-prone province.
 |
| An inundated road in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam, December 29, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
The precipitation of 145 millimeters measured on Saturday caused water in several of Phu Yen’s irrigation reservoirs to rise above the acceptable level and it was very likely that they would discharge water.
This meant flooding was threatening downstream areas that had been pretty safe and the authorities were figuring reaction strategies for the scenario, including an evacuation plan.
Floodwaters were flowing so quickly over a local road that traffic ground to a halt.
 |
| Men stand next to a traffic-banning sign along an inundated road in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam, December 29, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
 |
| A man watches a flooded expanse of land in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam, December 29, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
