Relentless Rains Submerge Homes As Vietnam Floods Kill 41 People

Heavy rainfall that began in late October has battered south-central Vietnam, transforming holiday resorts into disaster zones and plunging entire neighbourhoods into floodwaters. In the coastal city of Nha Trang, known for its beaches and tourism, rescue teams were seen using boats to pluck residents from rooftops as cars sat half‐submerged in the streets.

Vietnam’s national weather bureau reported that in some highland passes, rainfall totals exceeded 600 millimetres in recent days. The flooding has crushed homes, cut off roads, triggered landslides and blocked vital transport links. Authorities say at least

41 people have died, thousands of houses are underwater, and search and rescue continues in the hardest hit provinces.

Impact and Response

• In central provinces like Gia Lai and Dak Lak, rescue teams pried open windows and broke through rooftops to reach residents trapped by rising water.
• The Ba River in Dak Lak and the Cai River in Khanh Hoa province both rose to record highs, surpassing previous flood levels set decades ago.
• One business owner in Nha Trang reported that his ground-floor shops and restaurants were submerged to a depth of around one metre, while his employees’ homes were under two metres of water.
• More than 43,000 houses were reported submerged in some areas; major roads remain blocked by landslides and flood debris.

Vietnam is no stranger

to heavy rainfall and seasonal flooding, particularly in its central region, but the current event is notable for its intensity and duration. Meteorologists say the volume of rain and the speed with which water levels rose reflect broader patterns of climate change — warmer air holds more moisture, and systems that stall over a region can unleash record rainfall.

Infrastructure strain is also a key issue. Urbanisation, rapid development in flood-prone areas, and insufficient drainage make many cities highly vulnerable. In heavily impacted areas, the combination of flooded houses, blocked roads, and disrupted services means recovery will be slow.

With floodwaters still rising in some provinces and rescue missions ongoing, the death toll is expected to climb. Emergency services have deployed boats and helicopters to assist stranded families, and authorities are warning residents in vulnerable areas to move to higher ground.

In the coming days, attention will shift to relief efforts: clearing debris, restoring power and communications, repairing roads, and providing shelter for displaced residents. Longer term, Vietnam may face mounting pressure to strengthen its flood defences and adapt infrastructure to a changing climate.