Vietnam floods submerge homes and threaten economic activity

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – Heavy rain caused flooding throughout parts of northern Vietnam on Thursday, disrupting travel, inundating homes and pushing a number of rivers above dangerous levels, authorities and state media noted.

Key points

• More than 2, 000 homes have been submerged, plenty of key transportation routes blocked and more than 1, 000 households isolated.
• Rain has fallen throughout northern and north-central Vietnam this week, with some areas receiving more than 50 centimeters (19.7 inches), according to the disaster prevention department stated.
• Vietnam is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries and prone to flooding.

What happened

More than 2, 000 homes have been submerged, plenty of key transportation routes blocked and more than 1, 000 households isolated. Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces. It include lowland and hilly areas south of the capital Hanoi, have been among the hardest hit.

Vietnam is among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries and prone to flooding. A series of severe storms last year spurred the country to find new ways to prepare for and manage floods.

The bottom line

For now, vietnam floods submerge homes and threaten economic activity remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.