Flooding hits central Vietnam ahead of Typhoon Sarika

Image copyright EPA

Image caption Four central provinces have been hit by flooding

Severe flooding in central Vietnam has left at least 21 people dead and submerged tens of thousands of homes.

Worst affected is the province of Quang Binh, where at least 11 people have been killed, crops destroyed and livestock washed away.

The floods have been caused by torrential rain, but local media say sudden discharges from hydropower reservoirs worsened the flooding.

Typhoon Sarika could bring more bad weather if it strikes Vietnam.

On Sunday the storm passed the main Philippine island of Luzon and headed into the South China Sea.

Several thousand Filipinos had evacuated ahead of the typhoon, and property damage, downed power lines and fallen trees were reported.

Typhoon Sarika could hit northern Vietnam early next week, according to the country"s weather bureau.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Almost 100,000 houses have flood damage, local media report

Image copyright EPA

Image caption More bad weather could be on the way if Typhoon Sarika strikes Vietnam

So far the flooding has affected tens of thousands of people across four central provinces. Images show houses with only their roofs above water.

Local media say more than 70,000 houses have flood damage in Quang Binh and almost 25,000 in Ha Tinh province.

Rice fields and other agricultural land have been inundated, local media report, and the main north-south rail link is affected.

In Quang Binh, questions were being asked over the release of water by hydropower plants.

VnExpress quoted a provincial official as saying that discharges had caused water levels to rise fast.

"The dam operators should have informed locals properly in advance," he was quoted as saying.

Original Article

Flooding hits central Vietnam ahead of Typhoon Sarika
https://latiendadejm.com/blog/flooding-hits-central-vietnam-ahead-of-typhoon-sarika/

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