Severe floods in Southeast Asia claim at least 28 lives

Heavy rains and floods since the beginning of the month have left at least 28 people dead and hundreds of thousands affected in Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most of the fatalities were in Vietnam and Cambodia, where thousands of people have been displaced and wide swaths of crops destroyed. Floods worsened after Tropical Storm "Linfa" made landfall over Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, Vietnam on October 11.

In Cambodia, at least 11 people have died since the beginning of the month, a disaster official reported Sunday, October 11. Among the fatalities, 10 reportedly drowned in floodwaters while one was killed by lightning. Several hundred families have been evacuated to higher areas.

As of October 10, around 140 000 people were believed to be affected. About 40 000 ha (98 800 acres) of crops and paddy fields have been ravaged.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered local authorities to mobilize assistance to flood victims. The Department of Public Works and Transportation banned trucks from flooded roads in Battambang and Pursat, the worst affected provinces in the northwest.

Other affected areas are Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kandal, Pailin, Svay Rieng, Phnom Penh, and Takeo.

Image credit: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Cambodia

In Vietnam, at least 17 people have been killed by floods in central provinces, while 13 people remain missing. 

Around 45 835 people have been displaced, while about 109 034 houses have been submerged and damaged, according to a government report. Floods have hampered the delivery of food supplies to thousands of victims.

Fatalities were reported in Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong.

Linfa brought further rainfall to Vietnam's central provinces after it made landfall over Quang Nam and Quang Ngai on Sunday, October 11. Inundations are expected to continue as more heavy rainfall is on the way.

In Thailand, severe flooding hit the Nakhon Ratchasima Province over the last couple of days, damaging roads and homes. Around 12 000 people were affected in the district of Pak Chong, where some residents were evacuated to higher grounds.

In Laos, flooding from swollen Xepon and Xebanghieng Rivers in Savannakhet Province damaged rice fields from October 6. Almost 900 families were affected in 21 villages.

Featured image credit: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Cambodia