In central Vietnam’s Nghe, at least three people have perished, and one is still missing. Local authorities reported that heavy rains from Tropical Storm Wipha triggered significant flooding and landslides in one region.
Before striking Vietnam, its first significant storm of the year – the storm, which made landfall in Vietnam on Tuesday, had already battered Hong Kong and southern China and exacerbated monsoon flooding in the Philippines.
According to the Kinh Te Moi Truong newspaper, citing the Nghe An People’s Committee, one victim was purportedly interred in a landslide while another was swept away by powerful currents.
With 459 more houses destroyed by strong winds, almost 3,700 houses have so far been submerged in floodwaters. Photographs on state media depict entire villages submerged, with rooflines just visible above the surface.
“Our rice, our clothes, and our money are all gone,” said flood victim Dang Thi Ngoc in an interview with state broadcaster VTV. “We have nothing left save our bare hands.”
Beyond property damage, the flooding has destroyed 1,600 hectares of rice fields and 1,290 hectares of other crops, jeopardizing the livelihoods of the area.
The Vietnamese weather agency predicts rain on Thursday and Friday up to 250 mm, with the storm’s impact expected to last into Saturday. Officials worry further floods and landslides could follow, particularly in northern regions.
With its long shoreline along the South China Sea, Vietnam is especially susceptible to typhoons and tropical storms, which often cause flooding and landslides during the rainy season.
