Quang Tri (VNS/VNA) - Tropical Storm Soulik, the 4th to enter the East Sea, has caused widespread flooding and landslides across several localities in central Vietnam, leading to isolation in many areas.
Households have been submerged, with some locations requiring continued evacuation due to landslides along key roads.
As of late September 20, rain had eased off in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri. In Ha Tinh, some rural roads in the districts of Huong Khe and Vu Quang remained flooded. In Quang Binh, 1,150 households were still underwater, and 38 villages remained isolated.
Soulik has injured one person (in Thua Thien-Hue) and damaged 96 houses (63 in Ha Tinh, four in Quang Tri, 12 in Thua Thien-Hue, and 17 in Quang Nam). In terms of transportation, 16 roads and low-lying crossings were flooded, and more than 100 landslides occurred (86 in Quang Binh, eight in Quang Tri, one in Thua Thien-Hue, and seven in Quang Nam).
On September 20, the Quang Tri province's Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue reported that over 1,000 households had to be evacuated due to the storm’s impact.
Heavy rain triggered landslides, depositing more than 50 cubic metres of soil and rock onto National Highway 14, cutting off traffic. By the afternoon, roads leading to some communes in Huong Hoa district were only just reopened after being cleared of landslide debris. Many areas in Vinh Linh district were left without power due to damage to the electricity grid, with recovery efforts still ongoing.
In Quang Binh, heavy rainfall has continued, with river water levels expected to rise further. Local authorities have deployed teams to monitor the situation, set up warning signs, and prepare to assist residents once the floodwaters recede. Previous rains caused the upper reaches of the Gianh river to swell, inundating several residential areas. Rising river levels in the mountainous districts of Minh Hoa, Tuyen Hoa, Bo Trach, and Quang Ninh have also been reported. As of the afternoon of September 20, 37 villages with more than 600 households in Quang Binh were flooded, with Minh Hoa district being the most affected, as 538 households experienced flooding ranging from 0.5-2m deep. All affected households had been evacuated.
Currently, 44 road sections in Quang Binh have been cut off due to landslides, several dams and bridges in Tuyen Hoa District) are experiencing water levels rising between 1 and 1.5m, making transportation impassable./.
