Emergency evacuation ordered in Vietnam’s Lam Dong as heavy flooding risk looms

Under the order, residents in flood-prone areas of the Kim Binh neighborhood were moved to Ham Thang Middle School and nearby reinforced homes.

People in the Kim Ngoc neighborhood were relocated to Kim Ngoc Church.

Households in the Ung Chiem and Thang Hoa neighborhoods were sent to Ham Thang 3 Elementary School.

Residents of the Phu Thanh and Phu Hoa neighborhoods were evacuated to Hoa Thanh Elementary School and the Phu Hoa Community Hall.

Phu Thinh residents were sent to An Thinh Elementary School, while people in the Phu Xuan and Phu My neighborhoods were relocated to Xuan My Elementary School and sturdy homes nearby.

The evacuation began at 7:30 am on Thursday and will remain in effect until further notice.

School principals were instructed to coordinate with emergency forces to clear school grounds and prepare facilities as shelters.

Neighborhood heads were tasked with urging residents to leave vulnerable areas for safe shelters, while the ward’s economic and urban infrastructure unit was ordered to respond under assigned emergency roles.

All units were required to submit reports every 30 minutes or immediately in emergency situations.

Heavy rain from Wednesday night into the early morning of Thursday caused severe flooding across many parts of Lam Dong.

In the Duc Trong area, south of Da Lat and below the Prenn Pass, more than 150 homes were inundated under water levels ranging from 0.8 to 2.5m. Several houses and household property were washed away, two cars were swept off the road, and three bridges were damaged.

At Dinh An Kindergarten, floodwaters of 0.7-1.5m disrupted classes.

More than 400 hectares of vegetables were submerged, with many areas suffering renewed losses after just recovering from a previous flood.

In neighboring Khanh Hoa Province, flooding also returned to parts of Nha Trang on Thursday as water levels on rivers continued to rise.

Nguyen Dinh Anh Minh, chairman of the People’s Committee of Tay Nha Trang Ward, said upstream run-off caused localized flooding in Vo Cang and Vo Canh areas, though water levels remained under control.

Residents were advised to elevate property, while evacuation plans, vehicles, and food supplies were prepared.

In Trung Khanh Vinh Commune, rivers were flowing rapidly after heavy rain on Wednesday.

Cao Thi Ngoc Thanh, chairwoman of the Trung Khanh Vinh administration, said both the Song Cho Bridge in Ca Thieu Hamlet and the Song Giang Bridge in Bac Song Giang Hamlet were submerged. Security checkpoints were set up and residents were warned not to cross the flooded areas.

The Khanh Hoa Hydro-Meteorological Station reported moderate to heavy rain from Wednesday night through Thursday, with rainfall totals ranging from 30 to 80mm per event and some locations exceeding 120mm.

Rainfall intensity was warned to potentially surpass 60mm within three hours.

The station forecast that flooding would continue on local rivers.

Authorities warned of localized inundation in low-lying areas across multiple wards and communes, including Dien Khanh, Suoi Hiep, Dien Dien, Bac Nha Trang, Tay Nha Trang, Nam Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Bao An, Ninh Phuoc, Phuoc Dinh, Phuoc Hau, Phuoc Huu, Thuan Nam, and Cam Ranh.

As a precaution, dozens of schools across Khanh Hoa suspended classes on Thursday.

All 14 schools in Dien Khanh Commune closed, including four kindergartens, five elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school, and a vocational school.

All eight schools in Dien Dien Commune also halted classes.

In Tay Nha Trang Ward, several schools, including Vinh Trung Kindergarten, Vinh Trung Elementary School, and multiple Middle Schools, were closed as floodwaters spread across roadways and residential zones.