Tropical Depression Toraji killed at least 12 people as it passes through Vietnam bringing with it flash floods and landslides. Troops are now sent in affected areas to clean-up destroyed villages and to assist the Vietnamese government in distributing aid to the affected villagers.
According to reports, heavy rains have been pouring in the central Khanh Hoa province over the past few days brought by the tropical depression's wind as it roams the South China Sea. The rain triggered landslides that destroyed a small reservoir.
According to an official from the provincial disaster office, at least a dozen was killed so far and they are still searching for several others. The officer refused to be named and he said that they have mobilized hundreds of army troops to help people restore their lives and to clean up damaged roads.
Transporting relief goods in some areas is difficult because the main highway that links the north and South Vietnam was temporarily blocked because of debris brought by the landslides. Some railway roads were also interrupted. Images are now circulating on state media showing houses buried under debris and some vehicles submerged in flood water.
According to a weather bureau record, the toraji is the eight storm that passed through Vietnam this 2018. Just like other tropical countries, the country is often hit by heavy rains every typhoon season starting from May to October.
Toraji is centered Cam Rahn Bay. It is about 40 km south of Nha Trang, a resort located on the Cai River in south-central Vietnam. The center of the storm passed through the coastline after dawn on Sunday. According to reports, the winds are not strong, however, it is moving at a slow pace brought rains falling for hours.
Reports show that the average rainfall in Nha Trang is 322 mm every November. Toraji brought 379 mm of rain in Nha Trang as it slowly moves and most of its rain fell during the day on Sunday.
Predictions say that the tropical storm may hit the Bay of Thailand which will further increase the amount of rain that may threaten the southern part of the country on Wednesday. The tropical storm is a part of a series of tropical cyclones that affects pacific areas from east to west.
According to reports, a new typhoon is expected to develop as it approaches the southern Philippines this week and it is predicted to pass through Southern Vietnam next week.
