Catastrophic flooding and landslides, triggered by days of relentless rainfall, have claimed the lives of 90 people in Vietnam, with 12 individuals still reported missing as of Sunday, according to the country's environment ministry. The south-central region has been battling adverse weather conditions since late October, with several rounds of flooding severely impacting popular holiday destinations.
Worst-Hit Areas and Infrastructure Damage
The coastal city of Nha Trang saw entire sections submerged underwater last week, while deadly landslides struck highland passes surrounding the tourist hub of Da Lat. The mountainous province of Dak Lak was among the hardest-hit areas, recording more than 60 fatalities since November 16th. Tens of thousands of homes have been inundated across the region.
The environment ministry confirmed that four communes in Dak Lak remained flooded as of Sunday. The disaster has inflicted severe damage on agriculture, destroying over 80,000 hectares of rice and other crops across Dak Lak and four neighbouring provinces. The flooding also led to the devastating loss of more than 3.2 million livestock and poultry, which were either killed or swept away by the powerful floodwaters.
Critical infrastructure has been crippled. In southern coastal Khanh Hoa province, two suspension bridges were washed away last week, isolating numerous households. As of Sunday, several locations along national highways remained blocked due to flooding or landslides, and some railway services were suspended. The disruptions extended to power supply, leaving over 129,000 customers without electricity.
Survivors' Harrowing Ordeals and Rescue Operations
Sixty-one-year-old farmer Mach Van Si from Dak Lak recounted a terrifying experience, stating that he and his wife were stranded on their sheet-metal rooftop for two nights as floodwaters surrounded them.
"Our neighborhood was completely destroyed. Nothing was left. Everything was covered in mud," he told AFP on Sunday. He described a moment of grim resignation, saying, "I just thought we were going to die because there was no way out."
In response to the crisis, authorities have deployed tens of thousands of personnel to assist affected communities. Rescue efforts include using helicopters to airdrop essential supplies like clothing, water-purification tablets, and instant noodles to areas cut off by the flooding and landslides.
Economic Toll and Climate Change Link
The environment ministry has estimated the economic losses across five provinces at a staggering $343 million. This recent disaster adds to a devastating year for Vietnam, where natural disasters have already resulted in 279 people dead or missing and over $2 billion in damages between January and October, according to national statistics.
While Vietnam is prone to heavy seasonal rains between June and September, scientists point to a concerning pattern. Human-driven climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and destructive, amplifying the risks for vulnerable nations.
