HANOI, VIETNAM – Catastrophic flooding and landslides have swept through central Vietnam, claiming the lives of at least 90 people and leaving 12 others missing, according to government reports released on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The relentless downpours, which have battered the region for weeks, have submerged homes, devastated agricultural lands, and crippled vital infrastructure, forcing thousands into desperate rescue situations and leaving many stranded on rooftops.
This unfolding news from the heart of Southeast Asia highlights the increasing vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events, a growing concern on the global stage. The scale of destruction across the central provinces paints a grim picture of nature’s fury, impacting a nation already prone to monsoon-related disasters.
The Human Cost of the Deluge
The official death toll stands at 90, with Dak Lak province bearing the brunt of the disaster, recording over 60 fatalities alone. Other severely affected areas include Khanh Hoa province, with 14 deaths; Lam Dong with five; Gia Lai with three; and Hue and Da Nang each reporting two lives lost. Quang Tri province confirmed one fatality. Reports indicate that at the peak of the crisis, an unknown number of people found themselves trapped on rooftops as floodwaters surged rapidly through their communities, with some recounting harrowing experiences of isolation and fear for their lives.
A farmer from Dak Lak, Mach Van Si, shared his ordeal with AFP, describing how he and his wife were stranded on their sheet-metal rooftop for two nights. “Our neighborhood was completely destroyed. Nothing was left. Everything was covered in mud,” he recounted, his voice thick with emotion. “I just thought we were going to die because there was no way out”.
Unleashed Fury of Nature
Days of torrential and prolonged heavy rainfall, exacerbated by saturated soils, have triggered widespread flooding and numerous deadly landslides across central Vietnam. The intensity of the precipitation has been extreme, with some areas recording over 1,900mm (74.8 inches) of rain in a single week. This relentless deluge has overwhelmed natural drainage systems and riverbanks, leading to flash floods that have inundated vast swathes of land, particularly in the central coastal and highland provinces.
Provinces such as Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Quang Ngai, and Thua Thien-Hue have been identified as the hardest hit, grappling with the dual threat of rapidly rising waters and destructive mudslides that have reshaped the landscape and cut off vital access routes.
Infrastructure in Ruins, Communications Severed
The impact on infrastructure has been devastating. Major highways, including National Highways 1, 27C, and 20, along with numerous provincial roads, have become impassable due to deep flooding and landslides, causing traffic gridlock stretching for kilometers. Sections of key routes have been submerged or damaged, forcing closures and detours that have further complicated rescue and relief operations. Railway services have also been disrupted, with tracks flooded or blocked by debris, stranding thousands of passengers.
The disaster has also plunged communities into darkness, with power outages affecting millions. At the peak of the flooding, approximately 1.2 million households lost electricity, and as of Sunday, over 257,000 homes remained without power, leading to significant disruptions in mobile and internet services.
Economic and Agricultural Devastation
Beyond the immediate human tragedy, the economic toll is mounting. Preliminary estimates suggest total economic losses exceeding $341 million across the affected provinces. The agricultural sector, a backbone of Vietnam’s economy, has been decimated. More than 80,000 hectares of rice and other vital crops have been damaged or washed away, and over 3.2 million livestock and poultry have perished. This dual blow to livelihoods and food security will have long-lasting repercussions for the region.
Nation Mobilizes for Relief Efforts
In response to the crisis, the Vietnamese government has mobilized significant resources. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has convened urgent virtual meetings with national ministries and local authorities, urging intensified response measures and coordinating recovery efforts. The government has allocated emergency aid totaling 700 billion Vietnamese Dong (approximately $26.6 million) to support the hardest-hit regions.
Military and police personnel have been deployed en masse, working alongside tens of thousands of rescue workers to evacuate stranded residents, deliver essential supplies, and conduct search operations. Helicopters have been utilized to airdrop aid to cut-off communities, providing much-needed food, water purification tablets, and other necessities. Naval forces have also been deployed to assist in Khanh Hoa province.
A Global Wake-Up Call: Climate Change and Resilience
Experts are increasingly linking such extreme weather events to the escalating climate crisis. Southeast Asia, a region already prone to heavy seasonal rains, is becoming particularly vulnerable to flash floods, landslides, and rising river levels. The recurrence and intensifying nature of these disasters in Vietnam serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced climate resilience strategies. While the Vietnamese government has made efforts to mitigate disaster impacts, the scale of this recent catastrophe suggests that climate change is outpacing adaptation measures.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the world watches this devastating event unfold, underscoring the interconnectedness of our planet and the shared challenges posed by a changing climate. The resilience of the Vietnamese people will be tested in the coming weeks and months as they begin the arduous task of rebuilding their lives and communities from the ground up.
This news continues to develop, with ongoing efforts to assess the full extent of the damage and support those affected by this national tragedy.