Vietnam floods leave at least 90 dead and 12 missing

At least 90 people have died and 12 are missing after severe flooding and landslides struck central Vietnam, caused by days of heavy rainfall that led to widespread destruction and emergency response efforts. The flooding began after relentless rain lashed south-central Vietnam since late October, with the situation worsening in recent days. Rainfall in some areas exceeded 1.5 meters, with certain locations recording levels not seen since 1993, leading to rapid flooding and landslides that caught many communities off guard. The hardest-hit province is Dak Lak, where over 60 deaths have been recorded since November 16. Other affected provinces include Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed. A farmer in Dak Lak described how his neighborhood was completely covered in mud, with nothing left after the floodwaters receded. Rescue operations have been extensive, with military and police resources mobilized to assist in the most affected areas. Helicopters have been used to airdrop aid to communities cut off by flooding and landslides, delivering essential supplies like clothing, water purification tablets, and instant noodles. Tens of thousands of personnel are involved in the relief efforts, working to reach isolated families and provide immediate support. Infrastructure has suffered significantly, with national highways blocked, railway sections suspended, and suspension bridges washed away in Khanh Hoa province. Over 129,000 people remained without electricity on Sunday, down from more than a million earlier in the week, highlighting the scale of the disruption. The economic impact is substantial, with preliminary estimates from the government indicating losses of around $343 million across the five provinces. More than 80,000 hectares of crops have been damaged, and over 3.2 million livestock or poultry were killed or swept away by the floodwaters, dealing a severe blow to local agriculture and livelihoods. In response, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who chaired an emergency meeting from South Africa where he was attending the G20 summit, has ordered financial aid for the provinces. This includes approximately $19 million for Dak Lak to help residents rebuild homes and restore public assets, with similar funds allocated for other affected areas. The government aims to complete repairs before the Lunar New Year, emphasizing rapid recovery for displaced families. This event is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather in Vietnam, where natural disasters have left 279 people dead or missing and caused over $2 billion in damage between January and October this year. Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of such events to human-driven climate change, which makes typhoons and heavy rainfall more destructive, raising concerns about future vulnerabilities. As the rain is forecast to ease in the coming days, recovery efforts are underway, but many families remain displaced and in need of support. The focus is on providing immediate relief and long-term rebuilding to mitigate future risks, with authorities coordinating to restore normalcy in the region.