Floodwaters recede, revealing devastation in Vietnam’s Dak Lak

Residents, exhausted after days of battling rising water, began the slow process of cleaning up and rebuilding their lives in the wake of the floods that started ravaging the central region last week.

At the heart of a flood-hit zone, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters witnessed scenes of determination as families returned to homes caked in mud, collecting scattered belongings and clearing debris left behind by what many described as a historic flood.

Relief vehicles formed long lines along National Highway 1, inching toward isolated pockets of the province that had been cut off for days as water levels surged.

In several residential areas in Hoa Xuan Commune, floodwaters still encircled homes, forcing rescue teams to rely on motorboats and personal watercraft to deliver essential supplies.

“Just hearing the sound of the boat engines is enough to lift our spirits. It means help is coming,” said Thu Cuc, a resident of Hoa Xuan Commune.

Residents were provided with rice, drinking water, life jackets, flashlights, medicine, and even mats and blankets.

Although the water has started to recede, its movement remains unpredictable.

Relief crews said they plan to return in the coming days with more aid and to help evacuate families still trapped by lingering floodwaters.