HANOI, 7th December, 2022 (WAM) -- Heavy downpours and floods in the central region of Vietnam in the past few days claimed the lives of five people, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

According to the standing office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, 2,903 houses were submerged in Thua Thien-Hue province, and more than 10ha of rice and 620ha of crops in Quang Nam province were flooded. Traffic on some roads was also blocked due to landslides.

Meanwhile, severe erosion at the riverbank in the southern province of Vinh Long has swallowed nearly 38,000 square metres of land, 11 houses and other properties.

Local authorities have erected warning signs to prevent people from entering the dangerous area and relocated 17 households to safety locations.