Heavy rainfall in central China kills at least 41 people

Continuous rains and flooding have killed at least 41 people in central Vietnam since the weekend, and nine people are still missing, state media reported, with search efforts continuing.

Flooding has reportedly submerged more than 52,000 homes and left half a million homes and businesses without power.

Over the past three days, multiple areas have received more than 1.5 m (5 ft) of rain, in some areas exceeding the 1993 flood peak of 5.2 m.

The worst-hit areas include the coastal cities of Hoi An and Nha Trang, as well as the main coffee-producing belt of the central highlands, where farmers have already had their harvests stalled by earlier storms.

Extreme weather has hit Vietnam in recent months. Two typhoons, calmaghi and Good morningleaving a trail of death and destruction within weeks.

According to government estimates, natural disasters caused losses in Vietnam of US$2 billion between January and October this year.

Photos posted by local media showed floodwaters seeping into houses and people trapped on roofs, while a video circulated online showed the anchor of a suspension bridge in Lam Dong province being ripped off.

The province has declared a state of emergency after landslides damaged major roads and highways.

According to Agence France-Presse, part of the Mimosa Pass, the main entrance route to the popular tourist city of Da Lat, collapsed into the canyon, causing traffic to be completely disrupted and a bus almost falling into the crack.

Tens of thousands of residents in flood-affected areas have been evacuated. Military and police have been deployed to set up emergency shelters and move people to safety.

A restaurant owner in Nha Trang told AFP his shop was flooded by about a meter of water.

“I’m worried about the furniture in restaurants and shops, but of course there’s nothing I can do now,” said restaurant owner Bui Quoc Vinh.

“I don’t think the water is going to recede anytime soon because the rain hasn’t stopped yet.”

Authorities warned of moderate to heavy rains in central Vietnam until at least Sunday.