Vietnam’s tourist sites submerged as record rainfall causes major flooding

HANOI Vietnam AP Heavy rains have caused major flooding in central Vietnam with rivers swelling and submerging homes farmland and tourist destinations including the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An Rainfall in the central city of Hue reached millimeters inches in hours by late Monday the highest volume ever recorded in Vietnam according to the country s meteorological department By Tuesday morning water levels in Hue s iconic Perfume River had risen to meters feet and were waist-deep in the UNESCO-listed former imperial capital and the ancient town of Hoi An Tourists were evacuated by boat from Hoi An after persistent rains and releases from hydroelectric dams caused water in the Hoai River to rise nearly meters feet State media announced around tourists were moved to other hotels The flood was rising so fast and we had to fast relocate our guests to other hotels outside the flooding area for their safety explained Nguyen Ngoc Anh a hotelier near the Thu Bon river in Hoi An He commented they could only secure the doors of the hotels and evacuate the flooded premises The floods in Hue submerged homes and cut off major streets state media informed adding that residents used boats to move around The train course between Hanoi in the north and the southern financial capital of Ho Chi Minh city was suspended impacting thousands of passengers state media commented On Monday evening Vietnam s railways positioned carriages laden with heavy stones weighing tons U S tons on a bridge to prevent it from being swept away by floodwaters state media announced About people in rural pockets of the Thua Thien Hue province were isolated by flooding and landslides revealed Australian nonprofit Blue Dragon Children s Foundation The number includes children under its care Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and wetter according to experts because warmer oceans provide them with more fuel driving more intense winds heavier rainfall and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia Vietnam is among the preponderance flood-prone countries worldwide with nearly half its population living in areas of pitfall The Associated Press circumstances and environmental coverage receives financial patronage from multiple private foundations AP is solely responsible for all content Find AP s standards for working with philanthropies a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP org Source