Flood fury

TORRENTIAL rains and floods ravaged the central coast of Vietnam in the first week of November, causing a heavy loss to life and property. According to government officials, these were the worst-ever floods to hit the coast during the past 40 years.

According to a report, about 441 people have been killed and 94 were missing. The provinces in central Vietnam, from Quang Binh to Quang Nam, have been flooded. Over 87 hectares (ha) of cropped land, including 24,000 ha of subsidiary crops have been affected. Thousands of domestic animals have been killed. Bridges as well as the sewerage system are beyond repair.

Nyugen Ngoc Dong, a senior government official said that there has been damage to the tune of us $44 million. Deputy chief of staff of the army Nguyen Huy Hieu, has expressed concern over communications being cut off from the remote areas. The inter-provincial telecommunications centre said only the back-up phone line is in order.

According to Lao Dong , a local daily, road and rail links between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city have been cut off. Despite bad weather, rescue operations are in full swing after the army took over relief operations.

The army had been using amphibious tanks along with helicopters to evacuate people from the flood-hit central coastal areas. Military helicopters and a cargo plane were used to dispatch food and medicine initially. The condition, however, remains critical with the water levels still rising.

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