Severe Flooding in Vietnam Causes Landslides, Taking Two Lives

Post by : Raina Nasser

HANOI: Vietnam continues to grapple with an alarming season of natural calamities, as torrential rains in the south-central region usher in severe flooding and fatal landslides. On Friday, December 5, state media confirmed the deaths of at least two individuals due to the relentless natural disruptions, with numerous landslides creating widespread chaos throughout the nation. Officials have termed 2025 as the “most extraordinary” year for natural disasters in Vietnam's recorded history, with severe flooding impacting hundreds of thousands of residences.

Coastal tourist hotspots have faced the brunt of the rains, engulfing thousands of homes and prompting large-scale evacuation efforts. Lam Dong province showed considerable damage, with two confirmed deaths and sixteen landslides hindering road and bridge functionality. Rescue operations are being carried out using boats to distribute food and clean drinking water, with local residents reporting that floodwaters have reached depths of up to two meters in certain areas.

Community members expressed disbelief at the sheer magnitude of the flooding, emphasizing that this region is generally not prone to such devastating storms. Many are hoping for a gradual decline in water levels over the coming days to help restore normalcy.

Authorities underlined the severity of the ongoing crisis, with Hoang Duc Cuong, deputy director of the meteorology and hydrology department at the Environment Ministry, mentioning that 2025 has recorded an unprecedented number of storms. So far, 21 storms—including 15 typhoons and six tropical depressions—have impacted Vietnam this year, a significant leap from the average of around ten storms annually. Extreme rainfall has also characterized the year, with river levels reaching record highs across northern to central Vietnam and down into the Mekong Delta. In particular, one locality in central Vietnam saw an astonishing 1,739mm of rainfall within just a single day.

This year's natural crises have had catastrophic effects, resulting in the deaths or disappearances of over 400 people and economic damages exceeding US$3.6 billion. Experts attribute the rising frequency and severity of extreme weather in Vietnam to human-induced climate change.

Vietnam is addressing these severe weather patterns in a broader context; recent floods in neighboring regions like Indonesia and Sri Lanka have led to over 1,500 deaths and dislocated countless others, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of Southeast Asian countries to climate-related disasters.

The unparalleled floods and landslides this year in Vietnam underscore the pressing need for enhanced disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and robust climate mitigation strategies to safeguard communities from the escalating impact of natural disasters.