1,300 isolated as heavy rains flood central province

Two roads leading to the An Phu Islet in the middle of Tra Khuc River, home to around 350 families, have been flooded by rising waters. During dry seasons, residents often use these roads to travel back and forth between the islet and the surrounding land.

But heavy rains over the past two days have flooded one road, and strong water flow caused erosion on the other road, leaving behind a chasm as of Saturday noon. With roads rendered inaccessible, residents on the islet, including dozens of students, have to resort to boats to travel around. The majority of them do not have life vests with them.

For residents who were stuck on the mainland, many decided to stay now that the roads have become unusable.

“I was bringing my grandchild back home from school, but upon seeing the rising water and hearing news about an incoming storm, I decided to let my grandchild stay with an acquaintance on the mainland,” said Bui Thanh Binh.

A house in An Phu Islet, Quang Ngai Province is heavily flooded, September 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Tien Minh

Vo Van Khuong, chairman of the Tinh An Commune People’s Committee, said authorities have erected warning signs, dispatched personnel and provided people with life vests as of Saturday afternoon.

Due to impacts of storm Noru, Quang Ngai and localities from Da Nang to Binh Thuan, as well as southern Vietnam and Central Highlands regions, will continue to see heavy rains in the coming days, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

There are risks of floods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as inundations in lower areas, the center added.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, storm Noru was about 500 km to the east of the Philippines’ Luzon Island. Its maximum wind speed was at 117 kph. In the next 24 hours, the storm would move west at 20 kph, the center said.