Vietnam and Thailand – Floods Hit After Rain From Tropical Cyclone ‘Podul’

Disaster management agencies in Thailand and Vietnam report that 6 people have died as a result of wind damage and flooding from Tropical Cyclone ‘Podul’.

Podul made landfall over Quang Bình Province in central Vietnam on 29 August, 2019, with maximum sustained winds of 55-65 km/h. The next day the centre of the storm had moved to Thailand, where the storm was forecast to weaken and eventually dissipate.

On Aug. 29, 2019 at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC), the MODIS instrument aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite provided a visible image of Podul in the South China Sea. Podul had already started its landfall in central Vietnam and appeared somewhat elongated.
Credit: NASA/NRL

Thailand

According to WMO figures, heavy rainfall was recorded in parts of northeastern Thailand from 29 August. In a 24 hour period to 30 August, Roi Et recorded 296.7 mm of rain, Mukdahan 221.5mm and Kamalasai 199.1mm.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported on 02 September that total of 39,857 households had been affected by flooding and strong winds from Storm Podul. DDPM confirmed 1 fatality in Ubon Ratchathani, 1 in Phichit and a third in Phitsanulok. One person was injured in Chaiyaphum.

At least 9 provinces are still dealing with flooding: Phitsanulok, Phichit, Amnat Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Roi Et. Over 1,200 people remain displaced.

Among the worst hit provinces were Khon Kaen, where 19,124 households were affected and 500 people remain displaced. In Roi Et Province, flooding damaged 5 roads 1 bridge and affected 3,476 households. Around 8,000 households were affected in Yasothon, 3,445 in Phichit and 1,223 in Ubon Ratchathani.

Vietnam

On 30 August, Vietnam’s Disaster Management Authority (DMA) reported that 3 people had died as a result of severe weather brought by Storm Podul. Strong winds in Hanoi and Quang Binh left 2 people dead. One person died after being swept away by flood waters in Hoa Binh.

Over 1,100 houses were damaged, mostly by strong winds including 652 in Yen Bai. DMA said that 282 houses were flooded in Thanh Hoa.

Heavy rain was reported in Vietnam from 29 August, in particular in Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Tri Provinces. In a 24 hour period to 30 August Cam Thuy in Thanh Hoa Province recorded 297mm of rain.