Hue: The Vietnamese government reported on Tuesday that heavy rains over the past few days have caused severe flooding in central Vietnam, particularly in major tourist destinations like Hue and Hoi An. Vietnam’s government’s Disaster Management Office said rainfall in parts of Hue, the former imperial capital, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An exceeded 1,000 millimeters in the 24 hours ending Monday evening.

According to Thai News Agency, photos published in state media showed much of Hoi An town flooded, with houses almost up to their roofs, as authorities deployed boats to evacuate tourists. Meanwhile, the department reported that 32 of Hue’s 40 communes were affected by flooding, with water depths of one to two meters. The government said flood levels in Hue were record high.

Across central Vietnam, authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from flooded areas where transport and electricity have been cut off. State media reported that severe flooding also forced Vietnam Railways Corp. to suspend train services between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The government also said in the report that more than 306,000 households and businesses in Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Tri provinces are experiencing power outages.

The government’s weather agency said Tuesday that water levels in major rivers in central Vietnam are peaking and heavy flooding is expected to continue for days, with an increased risk of landslides. Government statistics show that in the first nine months of this year, natural disasters have claimed 187 lives and caused property damage worth 16.1 trillion dong (US$611 million).