An hour-long downpour flooded many roads of Kon Tum City in the namesake province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, on Sunday afternoon while a flash flood swept through many residential areas in the border district of Ky Son, north-central Nghe An Province, earlier the same day.

Sunday afternoon’s inundation in Kon Tum City increased many residents’ doubt on whether the local sewer system worked properly as the flooding happens every time it rains in recent years.

Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Hue, and Phan Dinh Phung Streets were among the most flooded roads in the city.

The severity of flooding depends on the amount of rain, according to Dang The Bao, a local living in Thong Nhat Ward.

“Because this is in a low-lying area, the streets can be easily flooded as floodwaters cannot drain quickly every time it rains,” Bao said. 

“Light rains are not as bad as heavy ones, which can submerge the streets for three to four days before the water recedes,” the man commented, adding that many former local residents chose to relocate to avoid the situation.

Besides the sewer system, Pham Van Dung, Thong Nhat Ward’s chairman, blamed the increased urbanization.

Local authorities are working on solutions to the problem, including building a ditch system.

On the same day, authorities and people in Ky Son, a border district in Nghe An Province, also struggled to deal with the consequences of a flash flood that had happened during the small hours of the morning.

“Early on Sunday morning, we were sleeping when heavy rain fell,” Vi Van Muoi, a 38-year-old resident of Muong Xen Town, recalled.

“Then I heard a roaring sound as floodwaters quickly arrived. 

“I could only wake my wife and children up to run away to a safe place, but couldn’t bring anything with us.”

The flash flood knocked down a house in Ta Ca Commune, killing a four-year-old child and leaving another kid missing, according to a report by the People’s Committee of Ky Son.

It washed away cars and many other valuable assets of the locals, spilled debris into buildings and houses, as well as blocked traffic on several roads.

Many locals said that it has been more than a decade since they last saw such a devastating flash flood.

Rescuers have been sent to the affected residential areas, many of which were isolated by floodwaters and landslides, according to Ky Son’s deputy chairman Tho Ba Re.

The district’s administration also requested the People’s Committee of Nghe An Province promptly provide essential goods, supplies, and other necessities to help the people soon overcome the aftermath.

In early September, floods caused damages of nearly VND80 billion (US$3.35 million) in many communes in the same district.

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