On 19/11, Dr. Le Quang Hung, Director of Gia Lai Department of Health, reported that heavy rain and floods caused widespread inundation across many communes and wards. This included three major hospitals in the province: Quy Nhon Psychiatric Hospital, Quy Nhon Hospital for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, and Quy Nhon Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, all of which were surrounded by water.

"Thanks to early warnings, hospitals promptly moved patients and equipment to higher floors, so no significant damage has been recorded yet," Dr. Hung stated. Some medical stations and centers in low-lying areas were also flooded, primarily requiring the relocation of records and documents.

At Quy Nhon Hospital for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, water began to overflow into the ground floor around 3h on 18/11, leaving the hospital almost isolated for over a day. Dr. Do Phuc Thanh, Deputy Director in charge of the hospital, confirmed that 90 inpatients on the first floor, including many severe cases, were moved to the second floor. Staff also moved large equipment, such as X-ray machines, to higher ground as water levels rose within the facility.

"For decades, I have not seen water rise this high. There is no immediate damage, but if water levels continue to rise, the situation could be unpredictable," Mr. Thanh said.

Should water levels continue to increase, the hospital has prepared a plan to transfer patients to the administrative area on the third floor. Relief forces are providing meals for patients and staff.

Water floods the hallway of Quy Nhon Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, morning of 19/11. *Photo: Patient provided*

At Quy Nhon Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, water had flooded the lower floor by this morning. The hospital currently has about 300 patients, relatives, and medical staff. According to the Director of Gia Lai Department of Health, Quy Nhon Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital is a place rarely flooded, but this time it was overwhelmed by the large floodwaters.

Many areas in Quy Nhon are deeply submerged in 2 m of floodwaters, forcing residents to climb onto rooftops and mezzanines to call for help.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Hydro-Meteorological Station, water levels in the Ba River basin at 7h on 19/11 all exceeded alert levels, with Ayun Pa station surpassing alert level 3 by more than 1 m. Widespread flooding is forecast to continue for the next 24 hours, especially in low-lying areas, riverbanks, and residential areas in localities such as Ayun Pa, An Khe, Ia Pa, Phu Thien, Kon Chro, and Dak Po. From 18/11 to the morning of 19/11, the province recorded widespread rainfall of 50-200 mm, with some areas exceeding 300 mm. Soil moisture in many areas is saturated, posing a very high risk of flash floods and landslides.

Patients wade through water in the courtyard of Quy Nhon Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, morning of 19/11. *Photo: Patient provided*

Le Phuong