At least 13 people have been killed and 11 remain missing after record rainfall caused severe flooding across central Vietnam, submerging homes and disrupting transport in the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An.
Vietnam’s disaster management agency said on Friday that more than 116,000 houses and 5,000 hectares (about 12,400 acres) of crops were inundated following days of heavy rain. Roads and rail lines were damaged, cutting off power and isolating several communities.
Hoi An and the UNESCO-listed former imperial capital Hue were the worst affected, with photos on state media showing entire neighbourhoods under water and some houses submerged up to their roofs.
Floodwaters in Hoi An began to recede on Friday, allowing residents to begin clearing mud and debris.
“I have witnessed floods many times, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said local resident Tran Van Tien, 60.
Tourism, a key source of income for the ancient town, has been hit hard, with most bookings cancelled.
“Floodwater rose too quickly, causing significant property damage,” said hotel manager Nguyen Thi Thuy, whose business has been closed since Monday.
Vietnam is frequently affected by tropical storms and flooding during its rainy season, which runs from June to October. The government warned that rainfall could exceed 500 millimetres (about 20 inches) in some areas through late Saturday, raising fears of further damage.
“I hope that floods won’t happen again so that we can reopen our hotel… We all rely on tourism here,” Thuy added.
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