Deadly Floods and Landslides Devastate Central Vietnam, Claiming at Least Eight Lives

Torrential Rains Unleash Havoc Across Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam is grappling with the severe aftermath of torrential rains that have unleashed widespread floods and deadly landslides since the weekend of November 15-16. A government report on November 19 confirmed at least eight people killed, with dozens more injured and several still missing. The relentless downpours have caused significant disruption to daily life, infrastructure, and the region's vital agricultural sector.

Rainfall has exceeded 1,100 millimeters in various parts of central Vietnam since Saturday night, exacerbating conditions in an area already prone to storms and floods.

Casualties and Ongoing Search Efforts

The human toll includes a tragic incident on Sunday evening, November 16, when a landslide on the Khanh Le Pass, connecting Da Lat to Nha Trang, buried a passenger bus, killing six people. Additionally, a worker died and another was injured in a landslide near the Khanh Son Pass. One death was also reported in Hue City. Reports indicate that seven people remain missing, including three buried under a landslide in Da Nang. The bus incident alone left 19 people injured.

Rescue teams have faced considerable challenges reaching affected areas due to ongoing heavy rains and further landslides, which have cut off access to several locations.

Infrastructure Crippled and Agricultural Impact

The floods and landslides have inflicted extensive damage on critical infrastructure across the central region:

• Roads: Multiple major routes, including the Khanh Le Pass, Gia Bac Pass, and Ngoan Muc Pass, have experienced landslides, leading to traffic suspensions and blockages. A section of National Highway 20 near Da Lat also suffered a significant collapse.
• Railways: Over 100 meters of railway lines near Cam Ranh were submerged, stranding more than 800 passengers on four trains.
• Homes and Evacuations: Approximately 17,705 houses remain flooded across Quang Tri, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Hue City. Hundreds of families have been evacuated, with some villages reporting homes flooded to the roof.
• Public Services: Schools in Gia Lai province were forced to close, affecting 26,000 students. The Du Long Industrial Park was inundated, halting operations for roughly 6,000 workers and causing power outages.

The agricultural sector, particularly the coffee harvest, has been severely impacted. In Dak Lak province, a key coffee-producing region, farms in low-lying areas are deep in floodwater. Traders report that only 10-15 percent of the coffee beans have been picked, and the continuing heavy rain is hindering the drying process, raising concerns about the overall yield.

Response and Ongoing Challenges

Local authorities have initiated urgent response measures, including the evacuation of thousands of residents to safer locations. The Gia Lai province activated its '3.1 flood response scenario,' preparing to evacuate 8,498 households. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed officials in Khanh Hoa province and relevant ministries to address the landslides and ensure timely evacuations and relief efforts. The national weather forecast agency has warned of continued heavy rain and the potential for more flooding and landslides in the region.