High tides in Vietnam

Some of the highest tides in the past 20 years have combined with strong winds to cause severe flooding in the southern province of Bac Lieu over the past few days.

Lai Thanh An, chief of the secretariat of the provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control said that unusual sea levels had affected a 56km stretch of coast and flooded Nha Mat, Ganh Hao and Cai Cung, with severe flooding occuring at around midnight.

Thousands of households and forests were submerged, and high tides eroded a 1m dyke system in Nha Mat Ward, isolating hundreds of households.

Sea water also destroyed crops and affected roads.

Director of the provincial Hydro Meteorology Forecast Centre Le Van Sa said that the problem had occurred for the past few years, but the water levels were higher compared to previous years, causing difficulties for thousands of residents.