Vietnam Floods Leave 16 Dead and Thousands Displaced as Rain Perseveres

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: AFP/Duc Thao

Relief crews in central Vietnam battled rising waters as heavy rains continued to swamp coastal and inland regions, leaving at least 16 people confirmed dead and dozens more unaccounted for. Floodwaters surged through major hubs, inundating homes, businesses, and roads, with entire neighborhoods submerged and communities forced to flee to higher ground or safer structures.

In the popular coastal city of Nha Trang, iconic beaches gave way to flooded streets as water rose to levels that submerged vehicles and flooded ground-floor businesses. Residents described scenes of boats navigating flooded streets while the waterlogged city grappled with widespread power and communication disruptions. Local business owners reported extensive damage to ground-floor establishments as staff and families faced the daunting task of salvaging belongings from waist-deep to multi-meter waters.

State media reported that rescuers used boats and improvised methods to reach residents stranded in higher-rise apartments and submerged homes across central Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces. The environment ministry said the search for five missing people remained active while the toll in fatalities continued to climb.

Infrastructure was severely affected, with thousands of homes underwater, major roads blocked by landslides, and railway lines suspended to prevent further risk to travelers. Outlying highland passes around Da Lat experienced landslides that cut off access and delayed relief efforts.

Authorities urged residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer zones and activated emergency response measures, including aerial searches and the deployment of security forces to assist evacuation efforts. Hospitals in affected areas faced increasing demand as they treated flood-related injuries and shortages of essential supplies.

Meteorologists attributed the worsening conditions to persistent rainfall and rising river levels, noting that heavy showers over the coming days could extend the disruption. The floods come as climate-driven extreme weather events increasingly challenge the region, underscoring the need for resilient infrastructure and well-coordinated disaster response.