Floods leave 102 dead or missing, cause over $342mn in damage in Vietnam

Of the total, 90 people were killed while 12 were missing, with Dak Lak alone having reported 63 deaths and eight missing people.

While on an overseas trip to South Africa, the government leader convened an urgent meeting with leaders of ministries, agencies, and affected provinces to coordinate immediate measures for flood response and recovery in the central region.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that the floods have caused exceptionally severe losses.

In addition to the human toll, 1,154 houses were damaged and at the peak of flooding, as many as 186,000 homes were submerged, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

More than 80,000 hectares of rice and crops were destroyed, while over 3.2 million livestock and poultry were killed or swept away.

Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with dozens of locations along national highways suffering landslides or blockages.

Meanwhile, railway services through Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa Provinces were suspended.

Also, countless transport, irrigation, educational, and medical facilities were ravaged.

Preliminary losses were estimated at VND9.035 trillion (US$342 million), with Quang Ngai Province incurring a loss of VND650 billion ($24.6 million), Gia Lai VND1,000 billion ($38 million), Dak Lak VND5,330 billion ($202 million), Khanh Hoa VND1,000 billion ($38 million), and Lam Dong VND1,055 billion ($39.4 million).

Emergency assistance mobilized

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh on Friday signed a decision granting VND700 billion ($26.5 million) in emergency relief to Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak.

The Ministry of National Defense deployed 44,668 personnel and 2,231 vehicles, delivering 86.5 metric tons of supplies, clothing, water-purification medicine, and 3,000 boxes of instant noodles to the flood-hit localities.

Helicopters were mobilized to airdrop aid to isolated communities.

The Ministry of Public Security dispatched more than 98,000 officers and nearly 14,000 vehicles to support rescue operations and maintain security during the crisis.

International partners, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, provided food supplies, including sausages, biscuits, milk, and bottled water to hard-hit areas in Gia Lai and Dak Lak.

The Ministry of Finance provided 4,000 metric tons of rice for Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa Provinces, while the Ministry of Health distributed six metric tons of chemicals, 150,000 water-purification tablets, and 3,000 essential family medicine kits.

The Ministry of Construction directed efforts to reopen National Highway 1.

Although progress has been significant, 13 locations on national routes remain partially blocked by landslides.

Two suspension bridges swept away in Khanh Hoa

In Khanh Hoa’s Nam Khanh Vinh Commune, officials confirmed on Saturday that the historic flood had washed away two suspension bridges on Wednesday.

These bridges connected the commune with neighboring areas.

Only cable lines remain at the bridgeheads, while metal frames were swept downriver, leaving many households isolated.