Widespread devastation across south-central Vietnam
The death toll from the latest round of floods in Vietnam has reached 90, according to the country’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The disaster has also left at least 12 people missing, with the hardest hit being the mountainous central province of Đắk Lắk Province.
Heavy rain since late October and repeated rounds of flooding triggered deadly landslides across south-central Vietnam, overwhelming regions already vulnerable to extreme weather.
Provinces under siege: landslides, rainfall and infrastructure collapse
Of the 90 confirmed deaths, more than 60 occurred in Đắk Lắk since 16 November. Tens of thousands of homes there were flooded, and numerous high-land roads and passes were cut off by landslides.
The coastal province of Khánh Hòa Province (which includes the city of Nha Trang) also suffered significant damage, with homes submerged, suspension bridges washed away and many districts isolated. Rainfall totals reportedly exceeded 1,900 mm in some central areas in the past week.
Economic and agricultural crisis unfolding
The environment ministry estimates the economic losses at some US$343 million across five affected provinces. In addition to homes and roads, vast tracts of rice and other crops have been damaged, and millions of livestock and poultry were either killed or swept away.
With national highways blocked and rail lines suspended in several places, rescue and supply efforts are being complicated by the scale of the disaster and the terrain.
A warning of deeper challenges ahead
Vietnam is no stranger to heavy rainfall and seasonal flooding, but scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense. The current flooding highlights both the vulnerability of mountainous and coastal communities and the need for stronger infrastructure and early warning systems.
As relief operations intensify, the focus now turns to recovery and rebuilding in the hardest hit regions, and assessing the broader implications for Vietnam’s flood resilience strategy.
