(VOVWORLD) - Widespread torrential rainfall and high tides triggered historic flooding in Vietnam’s central region over the past week, causing extensive loss of life and property in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Khanh Hoa province.
 Naval soldiers evacuate residents from flooded areas. |
As of 6:30 a.m. Friday, floods had left 52 people dead or missing, more than 68,000 homes submerged, and multiple residential areas cut off by fast-moving waters. Agricultural production and infrastructure have sustained heavy damage.
On Friday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh signed a directive allocating 26.5 million USD for emergency disaster relief operations.
The armed forces have mobilized tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, along with motorboats, rescue canoes, pumps, generators, tents, and life vests. The Ministry of National Defense has prepared helicopter landing sites for rescue missions.
 |
“We have deployed helicopters to airlift relief supplies to severely flooded areas where residents remain stranded and urgently need food,” Major General Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Commander of Military Region 5, said.
During an online meeting Thursday with the 4 affected provinces, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said flooding has surpassed historical records. He directed all forces to focus on rescuing residents and ensuring that no one lacks food, clean water, or warmth. He urged them to act “as fast as possible, as strongly as possible, and as resolutely as possible.”
“We have mobilized all available forces to deeply flooded areas to evacuate residents. For relocation, priority will be given to the safest, most accessible locations. Teams have been deployed to deliver food and supplies, and in isolated areas, dry rations and drinking water. Personnel have been assigned to cook meals for people in evacuation shelters,” said Mr. Dung.