Daftarsbmptn.com – The extreme rainfall that has hit several areas in the past 24 hours has broken rainfall records and triggered massive flooding that has destroyed homes, claimed lives, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. This incident was triggered by persistent, heavy overnight rain, which left low-lying areas unable to withstand the increasing volume of water.
One of the worst-affected areas was central Vietnam, where several days of heavy rain caused massive flooding that forced major rivers to overflow their banks, flooding residential areas and cities. In Hue, a historic coastal city, weather stations recorded more than 1,000 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest in the history of weather monitoring in the area and among the highest in recent history. As a result, many main roads and homes were submerged waist-deep.
Flooding also hit the popular tourist destination of Hoi An, where thousands of tourists and residents were evacuated by boat from the flooded area. The local weather agency predicts the rainfall will continue, so the potential for further flooding remains high.
Losses and Damage
This massive flooding has caused numerous casualties in Vietnam. According to authorities, at least 10 people have died, and several others are missing, swept away by the current or crushed by collapsed buildings. Homes, public facilities, and agricultural land were completely inundated, damaging infrastructure and economic resources.
In several other countries, similar phenomena have occurred. For example, in South Africa, prolonged heavy rains caused severe flooding in provinces such as Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Authorities have declared a national disaster, with dozens of people killed and thousands of homes damaged by the flooding and accompanying landslides. Massive evacuations have been carried out, including the withdrawal of staff and visitors from Kruger National Park, as the area was also inundated.
Meanwhile, in Australia, coastal areas of Victoria and New South Wales were hit by flash floods after extremely intense rainfall, described as the ‘heaviest this summer.’ Rivers overflowed, roads were cut off, and hundreds of residents had to be evacuated from the affected areas.
Evacuation and Rescue Efforts
Evacuation is a top priority in flooded areas. In Vietnam, tens of thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes, which were now inundated. Public transportation experienced significant disruptions including train services being suspended due to submerged rail lines and flooding that damaged several key sections of main lines.
Search and rescue workers worked around the clock with the support of the military and local authorities to search for missing people, evacuate residents from their homes, and provide emergency assistance. Many areas were isolated due to roads being cut off or blocked by water and landslides. In Hue, power supplies were also temporarily disrupted due to submerged facilities and power poles.
These conditions highlight the significant challenges in disaster response, especially as such extreme weather events have become more frequent in recent years. Climate experts attribute the increasing intensity of extreme rainfall and flooding to global climate change, which continues to exacerbate extreme weather patterns worldwide.
Call for Vigilance and Prevention
Local weather authorities and disaster mitigation agencies in various countries are increasing warnings and coordination to anticipate the possibility of further flooding. The public is urged to always follow evacuation instructions, stay away from overflowing rivers, and maintain safety during this period of intense rainfall.
The increase in extreme rainfall in recent years demonstrates the importance of investing in embankment infrastructure, early warning systems, and community preparedness to face the threat of future flooding.