At 9 a.m. Wednesday, due to upstream flooding and torrential downpours caused by Storm Etau, Bach Dang, Nguyen Phuc Chu, and Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa streets in Hoi An ancient town of central Quang Nam Province were submerged under a meter of water. Several grocery stores and shops were invaded in the process.

Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street in Hoi An is nearly one meter under water,
November 11, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Phan.

Nguyen Thai Hoc and streets along the iconic Hoai River have all been flooded by up to 50 cm. Authorities have put up barriers and warning signs to prevent residents and vehicles from accessing the flood-prone areas, with some residents opting to commute by boat.

Nguyen Thi Quyen, owner of a grocery on Bach Dang Street, said her store has been submerged since Tuesday.

"From early October onward, I have placed all my valuables out of the water's reach," Quyen said, adding that for the past week, floodwaters had risen twice.

Nguyen The Hung, town vice chairman, said the water level reached 1.72 m, with floodwaters forecast to further rise due to incoming heavy rains.

"This was the first time in 45 years Hoi An got hit by six floods in the same month since October 10," Hung noted.

The 12th storm to hit Vietnam this year, Etau, which made landfall Tuesday morning and weakened into a tropical depression, has triggered heavy rains in south central and central provinces since Tuesday. At least two people in Quang Nam and Binh Provinces have been killed by the storm.

Quang Nam has been battered by heavy rains since Tuesday with rainfall of up to 350 mm.