HANOI – Central Vietnam is grappling with severe floods as torrential rains have led to rivers overflowing, inundating homes, farmland, and even submerging popular tourist spots such as the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An. The relentless downpour has left a significant mark on the region, bringing life to a standstill in many areas.

On Monday, the central city of Hue recorded an unprecedented 1,085.8 millimeters (42 inches) of rain within just 24 hours. This marks the highest rainfall ever documented in Vietnam, according to the national meteorological department, underscoring the severity of the situation.

By the following morning, the water level of Hue’s famed Perfume River had surged to 4.62 meters (15 feet). As the UNESCO-listed former imperial capital and the ancient town of Hoi An experienced waist-deep floods, tourists had to be evacuated by boat. The continuous rainfall, coupled with water releases from hydroelectric dams, caused the Hoai River in Hoi An to swell nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet), prompting this swift evacuation.

The deluge in Hue has submerged homes and rendered major streets impassable, with 32 out of 40 residential areas affected, according to state media. In response, residents have resorted to using boats to navigate the flooded streets, a testament to the resilience of the local community in the face of natural adversity.

Moreover, the floods have led to the suspension of the train service connecting Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. This disruption has impacted thousands of passengers, as reported by state media, highlighting the broader effects of the flooding on the country’s infrastructure and daily life.

On Monday evening, Vietnam’s railways positioned 19 train carriages laden with heavy stones weighing 980 tonnes (1,080 U.S. tons) on a bridge to prevent it from being swept away by the floodwaters, state media said.

About 1,000 people in rural pockets of the affected Thua Thien Hue province were in need, as their homes had become isolated by flooding and landslides, said Australian nonprofit Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. This includes 200 children under their care.

Forecasters had warned that central Vietnam would receive heavy rainfall resulting in floods and landslides as storm Fengshen approached Vietnam. Global warming is making such storms stronger and wetter, according to experts, since warmer oceans provide tropical storms with more fuel, driving more intense winds, heavier rainfall and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia.

Vietnam is among the most flood-prone countries worldwide with nearly half of its population living in areas of risk.

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