Floods triggered by torrential rains in the central region have killed at least 31 people, left two missing and seriously injured three others, disaster officials said on November 17.

The National Search and Rescue Committee announced that the floods also inundated and damaged nearly 10,000 houses and 431 hectares of rice and crops.

In Quang Nam alone, as many as 29 communes across four districts were completely submerged.

Rescue forces have been working to move over 63,000 people in Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen cities out of the dangerous and isolated areas to safe shelters.

On November 17, flood water started to recede in some areas and rains focused mainly in the Quang Tri-Quang Ngai provinces.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting, the rain amount in the Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces on November 16 ranged from 30 – 149 mm.

Floods in Quang Ngai-Binh Dinh provinces are forecast to continue, while river waters from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Nam and Phu Yen provinces will slowly go down.-VNA