Devastating floods triggered by relentless rainfall have killed at least 41 people in central Vietnam, with rescue teams scrambling to save stranded residents and authorities warning of more severe weather ahead.
The floods, which began over the weekend, have submerged more than 52,000 homes and left hundreds of thousands of households without power, according to state media reports. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from affected areas, with the death toll rising as rescue operations continue for nine missing individuals. The deluge has inflicted widespread damage across six provinces, overwhelming local infrastructure and emergency services.
Central Vietnam, including popular tourist destinations like Hoi An and Nha Trang, has borne the brunt of the disaster. Rainfall has exceeded 1.5 meters in some regions over the past three days, surpassing previous flood records and causing rivers to overflow. Coastal cities and the central highlands, a key coffee production belt, are among the worst-hit areas, with floodwaters inundating entire neighborhoods and agricultural land.
Landslides have blocked major roads, including the collapse of part of the Mimosa Pass, a critical route to the tourist city of Da Lat. A suspension bridge in Lam Dong province was swept away, severing transportation links and hindering rescue efforts. The infrastructure damage has isolated communities, complicating the delivery of aid and evacuation of stranded residents.
Rescue operations involve military troops and police officers who are setting up emergency shelters and using boats to reach people trapped on rooftops. Social media posts from residents, including children, pleading for help highlight the desperate situation, with some stranded overnight. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in several provinces, mobilizing all available resources to assist those in peril.
The flooding has also severely impacted Vietnam’s coffee production, particularly in Dak Lak province, the country’s largest robusta growing region. Farmers were already reeling from harvest delays caused by earlier storms, and the latest floods threaten to exacerbate economic losses in a key export sector. This could have ripple effects on global coffee markets, given Vietnam’s role as a major supplier.
This extreme weather event is part of a broader pattern of intensified natural disasters in Vietnam, with two typhoons—Kalmaegi and Bualoi—causing significant damage and fatalities in recent months. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of such events to climate change, which amplifies rainfall and storm intensity in vulnerable regions like Southeast Asia.
Authorities forecast continued heavy rain through at least Sunday, raising concerns about further flooding and landslides. The cumulative impact of natural disasters in Vietnam this year has resulted in over $2 billion in damages and hundreds of casualties, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies to protect communities in the future.
