Heavy rains have claimed the lives of at least 41 people in central Vietnam since the weekend, with nine more reported missing, according to state media. The floods have submerged over 52,000 homes and left roughly half a million households and businesses without electricity, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
Some areas have recorded rainfall exceeding 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the past three days, surpassing the 1993 flood peak in certain locations. Coastal cities including Hoi An and Nha Trang, as well as coffee-producing regions in the central highlands, are among the hardest hit. In Dak Lak province, Vietnam’s largest robusta coffee-growing area, tens of thousands of homes are underwater, compounding the challenges faced by farmers after earlier storms disrupted the harvest.
The Vietnamese government estimates that natural disasters have caused $2 billion in damages between January and October this year. Military personnel and police officers have been deployed to assist with evacuations, set up emergency shelters, and relocate residents to safer areas.
A state of emergency has been declared in the region following landslides that damaged key roads. Traffic was disrupted when part of the Mimosa Pass, a critical route to the tourist city of Da Lat, collapsed into a ravine. Local media shared images of people stranded on rooftops and videos showing bridges torn from their anchors.
Vietnam has experienced a series of extreme weather events recently. Typhoons Kalmaegi and Bualoi struck within weeks of each other, killing dozens and causing widespread destruction. Experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such storms.
Authorities caution that the heavy rain is expected to continue at least until Sunday, and residents are urged to remain vigilant as rescue operations continue.
