The hardest-hit provinces include Dak Lak, which alone recorded 63 fatalities….reports Asian Lite News
The death toll from catastrophic flooding and landslides across central and Central Highlands Vietnam has climbed to 90, with authorities warning that the figure may rise further as rescue teams continue operations in remote regions. According to local media reports on Sunday, 12 people remain missing as weeks of torrential rain leave a devastating trail of destruction.
The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority confirmed that more than 1,150 houses have been damaged, while over 80,800 hectares of rice fields and other crops have been destroyed. Local officials described the flooding as among the most severe the region has witnessed in years.
The hardest-hit provinces include Dak Lak, which alone recorded 63 fatalities. Khanh Hoa reported 14 deaths, while Lam Dong confirmed five. Other affected regions are grappling with ongoing inundation, widespread connectivity issues and significant economic losses.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for intensified relief measures, urging authorities in central provinces to mobilise all available resources to safeguard lives and accelerate recovery. The government has already released an emergency assistance package worth 700 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately USD 26.6 million) to the worst-hit areas, according to Vietnam News Agency.
Despite gradual improvements in some districts, more than 28,400 homes remain submerged and nearly 950 have sustained structural damage. Power has been restored to most locations, though around 75,000 households are still without electricity. In addition, the government has approved a separate emergency relief fund of 450 billion Vietnamese dong (about USD 17.9 million) for four major regions — Hue, Da Nang, Quang Tri and Quang Ngai — to support recovery efforts.
The flooding is the result of relentless rains that have battered central Vietnam since late October. The country’s environment ministry noted that rainfall levels have far exceeded seasonal averages, triggering widespread landslides, highway blockages and significant transport disruptions. Several sections of the national highway network remained inaccessible on Sunday, and six railway segments continued to be suspended.
Forecasts indicate heavier rainfall ahead. Between November 23 and 25, Hue, Da Nang and eastern Quang Ngai are expected to receive 60–120 mm of rain, with some pockets likely to record more than 250 mm. Officials warned that this may hamper ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Economic damage is estimated at nearly 9 trillion Vietnamese dong (about USD 358 million), though authorities expect this figure to rise once floodwaters recede and proper assessments can be conducted. Agriculture has taken a severe hit, with more than 80,000 hectares of seasonal crops and 117,000 hectares of perennial plants destroyed. Over 3.23 million livestock and poultry have either died or been washed away, according to disaster management authorities.
Transport networks across the region remain fragmented. While National Highway 1 has reopened, landslides and deep water continue to block 12 other critical highway points. Several rivers in Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and the Dong Nai basin are receding but remain at high levels, posing ongoing flood risks.
Earlier in August, flash floods and landslides in the northern province of Dien Bien killed eight people and left three missing. Around 60 houses were swept away or damaged, highlighting the growing vulnerability of Vietnam’s mountainous regions to extreme weather events.
As emergency crews continue search operations, authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to relocate temporarily and remain vigilant as further heavy rain is forecast.
