BEIJING // A total of 140 people were confirmed dead yesterday in flooded areas of Vietnam and Indonesia, while tens of thousands have fled their homes in an island province of China as it suffers its worst rains in nearly five decades.
Forty-nine people have died in Vietnam in the past few days, with as many as 23 remaining missing, officials said. In the worst-hit province of Quang Binh, 20,000 were evacuated.
Tens of thousands of houses and thousands of acres of crops have been damaged in recent days according to the provincial flood and storm control department. Villagers were yesterday reportedly returning to areas where floodwaters had receded, despite the fact that more rains are expected, though they are not thought likely to lead to renewed flooding. "People are cleaning their houses and trying to put life back to normal," said Nguyen Ngoc Giai, an official in Quang Binh.
The death toll in Indonesia's West Papua province after a river burst its banks and engulfed houses in floodwaters and mudslides, rose to 91 yesterday, with more than 100 still missing, according to Dortheis Sawaki, head of the West Papua's relief operations' office. Clean-up efforts have begun in the village of Wasior, where residents were swept away earlier this week, although blocked roads and damaged bridges have compromised rescue efforts.
Meanwhile in China, 132,000 people have been forced from their homes after a southern island province was hit by its worst autumn rains for nearly 50 years, the official Xinhua news agency reported. More than 300mm of rain has fallen on parts of Hainan, an island popular with Chinese holidaymakers, during a week of downpours that caused severe damage to many of the island's roads. Officials reported two people were missing as more than 550 villages were submerged.
Reservoirs were forced to release their contents after water levels became dangerously high, adding to the flooding in nearby towns. Meteorologists were reported as saying this week's rains were the most sustained autumn downpour Hainan had received since 1961. Rescue efforts have been aided by more than 1,000 policemen and soldiers. Pictures released by Xinhua showed soldiers using speedboats to evacuate residents near the island's capital, Haikou, one of the four worst-hit cities.
Some of Hainan's tourist resorts, many of which had attracted visitors taking time off during China's week-long National Day holiday, which ends today, have been forced to close as a result of the floods. Thousands of hectares of crops have been ruined and sea services to the island were suspended earlier in the week, although they have since resumed. Meteorologists expect the rains to continue today, albeit at reduced intensity.
Hainan has in the past suffered from typhoons, with 170,000 people evacuated five years ago due to the strongest storm on the island for three decades. Hainan has been earmarked by the central government to be developed as a destination for international tourists, and property prices have risen steeply this year, only to fall back sharply as measures to curb the market took effect. The severe rains in Hainan are the latest in a series of flooding episodes to hit southern China this year that have killed hundreds and forced millions from their homes.
In the worst rain-linked disaster in the country this year, mudslides killed nearly 1,500 people in Gansu province in the north-west in August.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
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Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
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Three stars
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
SPECS
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The%20Specs
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BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions