Central Vietnam is grappling with one of its worst natural disasters in recent years as relentless rains and widespread flooding have left at least 41 people dead and nine others missing, according to state media reports. The unforgiving deluge, which began over the weekend, has submerged more than 52,000 homes and knocked out power for over 500,000 households and businesses, plunging entire communities into darkness.
Rainfall levels have exceeded 1.5 metres in several provinces in just three days, surpassing even the catastrophic 1993 flood peak of 5.2 metres in some areas. The coastal cities of Hoi An and Nha Trang have been among the most severely affected, with streets transformed into rivers and residents forced to seek refuge on rooftops. The central highlands—Vietnam’s key coffee-producing region—has also been battered, compounding the challenges facing farmers already contending with delayed harvests due to earlier storms.
Vietnam has endured successive extreme weather events in recent months. Typhoons Kalmaegi and Bualoi, which struck weeks apart, left extensive damage and further weakened vulnerable communities. Government estimates indicate that natural disasters have caused $2 billion in losses from January to October alone.
Images circulating on local media show dramatic rescues, including families stranded on rooftops and a suspension bridge in Lam Dong province being torn from its anchors. The province has since declared a state of emergency after landslides crippled major highways. Traffic along the vital Mimosa Pass, leading into the tourist city of Da Lat, came to a standstill after part of the road collapsed into a ravine. A bus narrowly escaped plunging into the gap, according to AFP.
Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of residents while deploying military and police units to set up emergency shelters. Yet challenges persist as heavy rains continue. In Nha Trang, restaurant owner Bui Quoc Vinh described watching his businesses submerged under a metre of water. “I am worried, but there is nothing I can do,” he said. “The rain hasn’t stopped, and I don’t think the water will recede soon.”
Officials warn that moderate to heavy rains are expected to persist through Sunday, heightening fears of further devastation.
