Floods and landslides kill two in Vietnam following Typhoon Noru
Landslides and flooding in Vietnam’s central provinces triggered by Typhoon Noru have killed two people in Nghe An province and disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of people.
Communities and roads in Ha Tinh province were cut off by severe flooding, while rapidly rising levels of water in rivers were threatening hydropower dams in the region.
Checkpoints were set up by police at flooded bridges and collapsed roads to prevent people from crossing. The authorities also evacuated people in areas prone to landslides and flooding. Footage on state media showed soldiers pushing boats loaded with supplies to families that were stranded by the flood waters, as excavators worked to clear debris and boulders on roads blocked by landslides.
Noru was the most powerful typhoon to hit Vietnam in 20 years, according to Vietnam’s national weather service.
The country is vulnerable to destructive storms and flooding because of its long coastline. Natural disasters - predominantly floods and landslides triggered by storms - killed 139 people and injured 150 others nationwide last year, official data showed.
