In brief
Days of torrential rain in Vietnam have led to catastrophic flooding, claiming at least 90 lives and leaving 12 missing. The government reports significant damage, with approximately 186,000 homes affected and over three million livestock lost. The region, especially Dak Lak, has experienced the worst impact, marking another extreme weather event in a country increasingly vulnerable due to climate change.
Recent heavy rainfall in Vietnam has triggered devastating floods, resulting in at least 90 deaths and 12 individuals reported missing. The floods have ravaged various provinces, leading to extensive damage and a humanitarian crisis.
The Vietnamese government has reported that about 186,000 homes have suffered damage, while over three million livestock were lost due to the floods. The financial impact is expected to reach hundreds of millions of pounds.
Flooding predominantly affected the mountainous province of Dak Lak, which has seen more than 60 fatalities since mid-November, exacerbating the already challenging situation from preceding typhoons Kalmaegi and Bualoi.
As of Sunday morning, more than 258,000 people were without power, with major transport routes such as motorways and trains disrupted. In response, military and police resources were deployed to assist the hardest-hit regions.
A local farmer, Mach Van Si, narrated the devastation, stating: Our neighbourhood was completely destroyed. Nothing was left. Everything was covered in mud. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính conducted an emergency meeting remotely during the G20 summit to address the crisis.
The rainfall has recorded levels exceeding 1.5 meters, and in some areas, reached heights not observed since 1993. Forecasts suggest that the rain will slow in the coming days, but the long-term implications of this weather event raise concerns about the increasing severity of climate-related disasters in Vietnam and the region.
Experts indicate that human-driven climate change has heightened Vietnam's vulnerability, making extreme weather events such as these more likely to occur.
