The diocese of Vinh has raised a call for help in emergency situations after most of its parishes in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh have been devastated by heavy rains and rising waters.

Hope faded on Thursday for people listed as missing after floods killed at least 49 in central Vietnam, state media report. Hardest-hit Quang Binh province recorded 33 fatalities, with 14 people still missing. The 16 other deaths came in Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Tri provinces. Those killed had reportedly drowned and been swept away by the powerful waters.

In the deanery of Ngan Sau, Ha Tinh, 160 homes were destroyed. 800 parishioners became homeless without food after running for their lives to nearby mountains.

The catastrophe has affected hundreds of thousands people in Quang Binh province when 6 out of its 7districtes are still under the water.

The heavy rains and rising waters have inundated thousands of hectares of crops while damaging thousands of houses of Catholics in parishes of Van Thanh, Cam Xuyen, Kinh Nhuan in Ha Tinh, and Da Nen, Kim Lu, Tan Hoi, Minh Cam of Quang Binh.

Caritas of Vinh has responded almost immediately by providing emergency relief including instant noodles, clothing, and medicine. At least 100 tonnes of instant noodles are required in the areas.

Fr. Peter Nguyễn Văn Vinh, the director of Caritas Vinh, can be contacted at caritasvinh@gmail.com (Tel. 0933.181.654).