Flood rises up in the Hoai River in Hoi An city. (Photo: VNA) Quang Nam (VNA) - Water in the Hoai River rose up to flood twostreets – Bach Dang and Nguyen Thai Hoc – in the ancient city of Hoi An andvillages on the Hoai River banks on December 15.
Water 1.5m-2m deep also stopped traffic,stranding thousands of residents and tourists traveling on the other side ofthe Hoai River bank. Most tourists and local residents had to use boats totravel from the flood-affected villages and hotels to Hoi An’s market.
Restaurants and houses on the pedestrian NguyenPhuc Chu Street, night market, Sculpture Park, An Hoi Bridge, Bach Dang andNguyen Thai Hoc streets were submerged in water.
A return boat trip cost 200,000 VND (8.8 USD)was the only way for residents to cross the Hoai River.
“Water rose up very fast from midnight. The An HoiBridge is under water and can only be recognised by its handrail,” said Tran VanSung, 73.
“I closed my restaurant on Bach Dang Street onthe Hoai River and moved all the furniture upstairs as water came in and roseup to cover half the door,” Sung said but conceded that the flooding this timehas yet to reach its record roof-top levels.
He lamented the cost of having to clean andredecorate the restaurant after floods, as well as painting doors and windows.
But not everyone is despondent over therecurring flooding.
Nguyen Thu Hoai, a resident of Triem TayVillage, said she earns a lot of money from rowing boats for tourists and localresidents from the ancient town along flooded streets and markets.
“I can earn 200,000 VND for each boat trip. Manyresidents in flooded areas on the Hoai River bank ring me to carry them to themarket for food. It’s not my main job, but it’s helpful for everybody duringflood days,” Hoai said.
The city’s traffic police has warned allresidents and tourists to wear life jackets for safety and only travel by boatwhen it’s very necessary.
A deputy chairman of the city’s People’sCommittee said floods created difficulties for residents on the other side ofthe Hoai River (opposite Hoi An city). But had not affected tourism services inthe city’s old quarter.
Usuda Reiko, a Japanese resident of Hoi An, saidwater had submerged the river road in Cam Nam ward from December 15’s night.
“I cannot go out today. I just sit on the secondfloor. I closed my café, and I still have sufficient supplies for me and mystaff for several days. For me it is the worst flood. In the 2009 one I wasn’tliving on the river side,” Reiko said, adding that flood already occurred twicethis year.
The An Hoi Bridge, spanning the Hoai River in HoiAn, is only recognized by its handrail.
According to the latest report from the Centre of Flood and Storm Prevention inthe Central and Central Highlands regions, rising rivers from Thua Thien-Hue toQuang Ngai reached its peak on December 14’s night and has been receding since.
The centre warned, however, that the Quang Tri,Binh Dinh and lower Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province will rise within 12hours.
Flooding also was recorded in 27 districts in ThuaThien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces, and seriousflooding is expected from Quang Nam to Phu Yen within several days.
Three people were killed in Thua Thien-Hue andsix injured in Phu Yen province between December 11 and 15.
Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces suffered a totalloss of 83.8 billion VND (3.7 million USD) in flood damage.-VNA
Water 1.5m-2m deep also stopped traffic,stranding thousands of residents and tourists traveling on the other side ofthe Hoai River bank. Most tourists and local residents had to use boats totravel from the flood-affected villages and hotels to Hoi An’s market.
Restaurants and houses on the pedestrian NguyenPhuc Chu Street, night market, Sculpture Park, An Hoi Bridge, Bach Dang andNguyen Thai Hoc streets were submerged in water.
A return boat trip cost 200,000 VND (8.8 USD)was the only way for residents to cross the Hoai River.
“Water rose up very fast from midnight. The An HoiBridge is under water and can only be recognised by its handrail,” said Tran VanSung, 73.
“I closed my restaurant on Bach Dang Street onthe Hoai River and moved all the furniture upstairs as water came in and roseup to cover half the door,” Sung said but conceded that the flooding this timehas yet to reach its record roof-top levels.
He lamented the cost of having to clean andredecorate the restaurant after floods, as well as painting doors and windows.
But not everyone is despondent over therecurring flooding.
Nguyen Thu Hoai, a resident of Triem TayVillage, said she earns a lot of money from rowing boats for tourists and localresidents from the ancient town along flooded streets and markets.
“I can earn 200,000 VND for each boat trip. Manyresidents in flooded areas on the Hoai River bank ring me to carry them to themarket for food. It’s not my main job, but it’s helpful for everybody duringflood days,” Hoai said.
The city’s traffic police has warned allresidents and tourists to wear life jackets for safety and only travel by boatwhen it’s very necessary.
A deputy chairman of the city’s People’sCommittee said floods created difficulties for residents on the other side ofthe Hoai River (opposite Hoi An city). But had not affected tourism services inthe city’s old quarter.
Usuda Reiko, a Japanese resident of Hoi An, saidwater had submerged the river road in Cam Nam ward from December 15’s night.
“I cannot go out today. I just sit on the secondfloor. I closed my café, and I still have sufficient supplies for me and mystaff for several days. For me it is the worst flood. In the 2009 one I wasn’tliving on the river side,” Reiko said, adding that flood already occurred twicethis year.
The An Hoi Bridge, spanning the Hoai River in HoiAn, is only recognized by its handrail.
According to the latest report from the Centre of Flood and Storm Prevention inthe Central and Central Highlands regions, rising rivers from Thua Thien-Hue toQuang Ngai reached its peak on December 14’s night and has been receding since.
The centre warned, however, that the Quang Tri,Binh Dinh and lower Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province will rise within 12hours.
Flooding also was recorded in 27 districts in ThuaThien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces, and seriousflooding is expected from Quang Nam to Phu Yen within several days.
Three people were killed in Thua Thien-Hue andsix injured in Phu Yen province between December 11 and 15.
Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces suffered a totalloss of 83.8 billion VND (3.7 million USD) in flood damage.-VNA
VNA
