Deputy PM urges harder work to cope with widespread flooding hinh anh 1People wade through flood water in Quang Vinh commune, Quang Dien district of Thua Thien-Hue province (Photo: VNA)

Binh Dinh (VNA) – Ministries, agencies and administrations of central provinces have been requested to work harder to deal with the widespread flooding which has left heavy consequences in the central region.

Inspecting flood response in Binh Dinh province on December 16, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung offered sympathies to flood victims and asked Binh Dinh’s authorities to mobilise all resources and have plans ready to timely deal with any situation.

He stressed that local officials should visit and give encouragement to flood victims and prepare to help local residents resume their daily routines after the flood is over.

From late November to December 16, flooding as a result of heavy rains killed 25 people and injured 10 others in Binh Dinh. More than 57,400 houses were deep under water, 348 collapsed, and another 398 were unroofed, according to the province’s steering board for disaster prevention, search and rescue.

Over 13,500ha of rice and 3,500ha of other crops were destroyed in floods which also washed away some 3,180 livestock and 195,500 poultry. Total damage is estimated at more than 1.23 trillion VND (54 million USD).

In Thua Thien-Hue province, preliminary data show that torrential rains and flood have claimed three lives and inundated 8,181 houses in the low-lying districts of Phong Dien, Huong Tra, Quang Dien, Phu Vang and Phu Loc. All schools in the province had to close on December 16.

Asides from downpours, the water release by hydro power reservoirs in full spate has also caused flooding in downstream areas.

In Quang Ngai province, widespread flooding was recorded in Nghia Hanh, Mo Duc, Duc Pho and Tu Nghia districts and Quang Ngai city on December 16, leaving thousands of houses under water.

One people died and one other was injured in flood while about 24ha of rice and 370ha of other crops were damaged. Many roads were deluged or eroded, isolating some localities, according to the province’s steering board for disaster prevention, search and rescue.

Heavy rains are forecast to continue in the central region in the next few days.-VNA
VNA