At least 41 people have died and nine are missing after torrential rains unleashed severe flooding across central Vietnam, submerging over 52,000 homes and cutting power to half a million households.
The deluge, which has battered the region for days, has seen rainfall totals exceed 1.5 meters (5ft) in some areas, with water levels surpassing historic flood peaks from 1993. The disaster has struck a heavy blow to coastal tourist hubs like Hoi An and Nha Trang, as well as the vital coffee-growing highlands, where farmers were already struggling with storm-disrupted harvests.
The scale of the devastation is vast. Dramatic images from local media show residents stranded on rooftops as floodwaters invade their homes. A widely circulated video captured the moment a suspension bridge in Lam Dong province was torn from its anchors. The province has declared a state of emergency after landslides severed major roads, including a critical pass leading to the tourist city of Da Lat.
Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated, with military and police deployed to establish emergency shelters. For those caught in the floods, the situation remains precarious.
“I am worried about our furniture… but of course I cannot do anything now,” said Bui Quoc Vinh, a restaurant owner in Nha Trang, where a meter of water inundated his business. “I don’t think the water is going to recede soon, as the rain has not stopped.”
This crisis is the latest in a series of natural disasters to hit Vietnam this year. Two typhoons struck in quick succession in recent months, and the government estimates that natural disasters have caused $2 billion in damage since January. With authorities forecasting more moderate to heavy downpours through Sunday, the nation braces for further suffering.
By James Kisoo
