Central Vietnam is reeling from catastrophic floods and landslides that have claimed at least 28 lives, left six people missing, and displaced thousands of residents, particularly in Hue and Da Nang. According to the Directorate of Water Resources and Disaster Prevention and Control, most fatalities were reported in Hue (12) and Da Nang (11), with several others still unaccounted for after being swept away by floodwaters.
Flooding and landslides have destroyed 91 homes, damaged 181, and left 22,100 houses submerged as of October 31. The hardest-hit areas remain Hue (11,500 homes) and Da Nang (4,600 homes). Though water levels in the Bo, Huong, and Vu Gia–Thu Bon Rivers have dropped to warning level 2 — the second-highest — the devastation remains severe.
At the peak of the flooding earlier this week, over 130,000 homes were inundated, meaning the number of flooded properties has since fallen by more than 110,000.
In Hoi An Ancient Town, many streets and riverfront houses remain underwater. Meanwhile, the north–south railway linking Hue and Da Nang has resumed limited operations, offering a glimmer of recovery amid widespread damage.
However, 80 sections of national highways across central Vietnam are still blocked due to landslides. Road crews are currently working to clear 46 major landslide sites across 11 national routes that cut through Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Ngai provinces.
Power outages continue to affect 245,000 customers, with more than 225,000 in Da Nang alone. Images from the area show entire hillsides collapsing and neighborhoods blanketed by mud and debris.
Meteorologists attribute the disaster to a combination of a cold air mass, a tropical convergence zone, and easterly winds, which unleashed torrential rains from October 25 to 30. The heaviest rainfall — a staggering 1,739 mm within 24 hours — was recorded at Bach Ma Peak in Hue, marking the second-highest daily rainfall worldwide during that period.
Five out of twelve major river gauging stations in Hue and Da Nang also surpassed historical flood levels, underscoring the scale of the event.
Although river levels have receded since Friday, meteorologists warn that more heavy rain is expected through November 4, particularly from Ha Tinh to Da Nang, with some areas forecast to receive over 700 mm of additional rainfall.
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert and follow evacuation orders, as renewed flooding remains a significant threat.
