HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – Central Vietnam has been hit hard by record-breaking rainfalls this week, leading to catastrophic flooding that has claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, with five more reported missing. The severe weather has inflicted considerable damage on cities, farmland, and transportation networks across the region.
The coastal city of Danang has been particularly affected, reporting six fatalities and four individuals missing. Local authorities indicated that the flooding left 19 residents injured while homes, agricultural lands, and thousands of livestock were swept away. Danang is recognized as a potential growth hub for Vietnam, raising significant concerns regarding the economic implications of this disaster.
Elsewhere, in Hue, the historic imperial capital, one person drowned, and a 5-year-old girl was reported missing after falling into floodwaters. By late Monday, much of the city remained submerged as rivers burst their banks following unprecedented rainfall of 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) within a 24-hour period, the highest recorded rainfall in Vietnam's history according to the national meteorological agency.
In Quang Ngai province, at least three deaths were confirmed as the region faced over 120 landslides along key highways. Some routes remained impassable, leaving 50 individuals stranded in 37 vehicles for three consecutive days. The flooding situation has also resulted in a breached river embankment and increasing floodwaters that have isolated numerous neighborhoods in rural areas of the province.
Vietnam's meteorological agency reported that a collision of cool air from the north with warm, moisture-laden winds from the sea initiated a series of storms that relentlessly pounded central provinces. This weather pattern forced rain-heavy clouds upwards into the mountains, causing even more intense downpours. Forecasters have warned that this pattern is expected to persist through Thursday night, maintaining a high risk of additional floods and landslides as the ground remains saturated.
In response to the crisis, police and military units have been deployed across affected regions, and local authorities in Quang Ngai are experimenting with drone deliveries to provide food and supplies to isolated residents. Central Vietnam is no stranger to heavy rains and tropical storms; however, experts emphasize that the magnitude and severity of this week's floods underscore the growing threats associated with changing rainfall patterns attributed to climate change. Nearly half of Vietnam's population lives in areas considered to be at high risk of flooding.
This devastating weather event serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by climate change, particularly in regions like Vietnam that are vulnerable to flooding. The humanitarian response, alongside the focus on climate resilience, will be critical as the country grapples with the aftermath of this disaster.
