At least 90 people have died and 12 remain missing in central Vietnam due to severe flooding and landslides caused by relentless rains since late October. The affected regions include the mountainous Dak Lak province, where over 60 deaths were recorded, as tens of thousands of homes were submerged. Despite recent declines in water levels, many villages remained underwater, isolating hundreds of families and causing widespread devastation.
The heavy rains have battered south-central Vietnam, affecting popular tourist areas such as coastal Nha Trang and the highlands near Da Lat. These regions experienced several rounds of flooding and deadly landslides, disrupting transportation as major highways and rail lines remained blocked. Electricity outages affected more than 129,000 customers, compounding the crisis in the flood-stricken areas.
Farmers and residents faced immense hardship, with over 80,000 hectares of rice and other crops damaged, alongside the loss of more than 32 million poultry. One resident from Dak Lak described being stranded on his roof for two nights amid the flooding, witnessing his neighborhood reduced to mud and destruction, highlighting the severe impact on communities.
The Vietnamese government has mobilized tens of thousands of personnel to deliver aid, including clothing, water purification tablets, and instant noodles. Helicopters have been deployed to reach isolated areas, while emergency relief funds totaling nearly $38 million US dollars have been approved to support recovery efforts in the hardest-hit provinces, including Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa. Authorities aim to repair or rebuild homes before the upcoming Lunar New Year.
Economic losses from the floods are estimated at around $343 million, adding to the $2 billion in damage caused by natural disasters in Vietnam earlier this year. The country is one of the most flood-prone in the world, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, leading to more frequent and destructive floods and landslides.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for stepped-up responses to the flooding and natural disasters, directing officials to ensure swift repair of public assets and assistance to affected residents. The government’s efforts focus on mitigating the damage and preparing for future climate challenges as monsoon rains and typhoon impacts increasingly threaten the central Vietnamese region.
This devastating flood event underscores the vulnerability of central Vietnam to extreme weather and the urgent need for stronger disaster management and climate resilience measures in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
