A 15-meter section of the wall surrounding the Hue Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the early 19th century, collapsed on Sunday evening after days of relentless torrential rain and pervasive flooding throughout central Vietnam.
The collapse along Dang Thai Than Street was confirmed by the Center for Conservation of Hue Monuments. This section is part of the historic complex that served as the political and administrative heart of the Nguyen Dynasty, constructed between 1804 and 1833.
The wall failure comes as central Vietnam endures historic rainfall, with Hue at the center, since Oct. 25. The immense volume of water resulted in flooding of 0.5–1 meter deep inside the Imperial Citadel, which covers about 36 hectares.
On the evening of Oct. 27, the water level in the Huong peaked at 5.05 m, submerging 32 out of 40 communes and wards in Hue City by 1–2 m.
The Imperial City, situated on the north bank of the Huong River, was entirely engulfed by the floodwaters.
The week of record-breaking weather has led to a rising death toll across central Vietnam, reaching 40 by Tuesday. Fourteen of those fatalities were recorded in Hue, with most of the remainder occurring in Da Nang City.
Eight communes and wards in Hue remain flooded at approximately 0.3–0.5 m.
Source: VN Express