Vinh Giang District, Guizhou Province, China, is struggling to cope with the worst flooding in years, as heavy rains continue to fall, causing river water to rise above safe levels, forcing the authorities to activate the highest emergency response level for flood prevention at noon on June 28.
At the Thach Hoi Trang hydrological station on the Do Luu river at 6:30 p.m. on June 28, the water level exceeded the safe level of 1.56m. The water flow reached 8,000m3/s, only slightly lower than the forecast flood peak. However, the water level continued to rise slowly but steadily on the same evening.
As of 6:00 p.m. on June 28, Vinh Giang authorities have organized an emergency evacuation for 41,574 people, belonging to 11,992 households. More than 1,000 soldiers, specialized vehicles, excavators, and bulldozers were dispatched to the scene to support rescue and reinforce vulnerable dyke points.
The heavy rain and thunderstorms that began on June 24 caused widespread flooding in Vinh Giang - a city with a population of about 385,000 people. To date, at least 6 people have been recorded as having died due to natural disasters.
On June 24, the local hydrological station recorded a flood peak of 256.71m, up to 5.21m higher than the technical safety limit, causing the largest commercial center in the district to sink, traffic and communication were cut off in many areas.
Although the water had temporarily receded by the morning of June 25 and 20 communes and towns in the district had been restored to access, the rain fell heavily again on the morning of June 28, causing the emergency warning I (highest) to be activated again. All people in low-lying areas were ordered to evacuate to a safe place.
Relief activities are being implemented in an orderly manner with the coordination of the army, professional rescue forces and thousands of volunteers.
As of June 29, China's National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 200 million yuan (about $27.9 million) to restore infrastructure, public services and rebuild after floods in Guizhou.
Not only Guizhou, many other localities in southern China such as Guangxi, Guangdong, and Yunnan are also affected by heavy rain lasting since mid-June. According to China's Ministry of Water Resources, more than 55 rivers in the Taizhang system have exceeded the warning level, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that from the morning of June 29 to the morning of July 1, the Northern region will continue to have moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms, with some places having very heavy rain. Common rainfall: 70-140mm. locally over 250mm. Warning of the risk of heavy rain over 100mm/3 hours.
afternoon and evening of September 29: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Central Highlands and the South will have scattered showers and thunderstorms, locally heavy rain (10-30mm), some places over 50mm
Heavy rain is forecast in the Northern region, which is likely to last until around July 2.
