World-record Cham tower in Hue flooded after historic rainfall

The Phu Dien Cham Tower, located in Phu Vinh Commune, has been submerged under about 60 centimeters of water following prolonged downpours and high coastal tides, the Hue City People's Committee said.

Deputy chairman Hoang Hai Minh inspected the site on Friday and ordered local officials to deploy more pumps to remove floodwater and protect the ancient structure. 

He criticized local management units for delayed reporting and slow response efforts, officials said.

Hue experienced 23 consecutive days of rain, including record-breaking precipitation of more than 1,700 millimeters in a single day at the nearby Bach Ma station — the highest ever recorded in Vietnam, according to meteorological data.

The Phu Dien Cham tower, discovered in 2001 beneath coastal sand dunes, dates back to the eighth century and is considered one of Vietnam's earliest Cham archaeological sites. 

The brick structure lies only 1.8 to 3 meters above sea level and about 100 meters from the coastline, making it highly vulnerable to flooding.

The site was recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument and in 2022 was certified by the World Records Union (WorldKings) as the world's first excavated and preserved Cham brick tower buried under coastal sand.

Authorities said they are assessing long-term drainage and flood-prevention measures to protect the heritage site and surrounding area.