Hanoi: At least 35 people have been killed and five remain missing after record-breaking rains triggered severe flooding across central Vietnam this week, disaster management officials said on Sunday. Torrential downpours have battered the country’s coastal provinces since last weekend, with up to 1.7 metres (5 feet 6 inches) of rainfall recorded over a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday, one of the heaviest in decades.

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According to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA), the deaths occurred in the provinces of Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong and Quang Tri.

The historic ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been left under waist-deep floodwater, forcing residents to navigate the streets by wooden boats after a nearby river rose to its highest level in 60 years. Heavy rain continued through Sunday, hampering rescue efforts.

Authorities reported that more than 16,500 houses have been flooded, while over 40,000 poultry and livestock have been swept away. Around 5,300 hectares (13,000 acres) of cropland are also under water, the VDDMA said.