The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) reported more than 16,500 houses currently flooded. Floodwaters have swept away over 40,000 poultry and livestock, while more than 5,300 hectares of croplandlie submerged.
HANOI — Record heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam have killed 35 people, with five still missing, according to disaster management officials on Sunday (Nov 2). Torrents have pummeled coastal provinces since last weekend, submerging homes and sweeping away poultry and livestock. In a 24-hour span from last Sunday to Monday, rainfall reached up to 1.7 meters—a staggering high that caught communities off guard.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
“No One Expected the Water to Rise So High”
“Everyone is in shock after the flood,” said Chuong Nguyen, 43, a resident of Hoi A, as rain continued Sunday. “People were preparing for the flood, but they didn’t expect the water to rise so high. Many homes weren’t able to get ready in time, so a lot of belongings were damaged. Everyone feels helpless due to the severe damage.”
The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) reported more than 16,500 houses currently flooded. Floodwaters have swept away over 40,000 poultry and livestock, while more than 5,300 hectares of croplandlie submerged. Earlier this week, the environment ministry said over 100,000 homes had been flooded and more than 150 landslides recorded.
Extreme Weather Trends Intensify the Threat
Scientists note that human-driven climate change is making storms and floods more deadly and destructive. Vietnam, located in one of the world’s most active tropical cyclone regions, typically sees about 10 typhoons or tropical storms a year—but has already experienced 12 in 2025.
Natural disasters—mostly storms, floods, and landslides—left 187 people dead or missing in Vietnam during the first nine months of this year. Government figures estimate total economic losses at more than US$610 million.
With rains still falling in parts of the country and recovery just beginning, officials continue search-and-rescue operations while communities assess losses. The scale of flooding underscores the rising costs of extreme weather—and the urgency of preparedness—to protect lives, homes, and livelihoods in the seasons ahead.
Lead image courtesy of AFP/Nhac Nguyen (This aerial picture shows floodwaters inundating streets and buildings following heavy rains in Hoi An, Vietnam, on Oct 30, 2025)
You may also be interested in :
Fragile States Face Climate Crisis With Less Than 10% of Global Climate Finance
