Floods, landslides kill 10, cause $10.8mn in damage in Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa

Tran Hoa Nam, deputy chairman of the Khanh Hoa administration, reported at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung on Tuesday that intense downpours had caused widespread inundation and landslides across the province.

Rainfall has reached 80-250 millimeters over the past two days, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment.

The disasters also injured 19 people and submerged 9,000 homes across 14 communes and wards under 0.3-0.7 meters of water, according to a preliminary report.

Among the 10 fatalities were six passengers who died on November 16 when a long-haul bus was hit by massive falling rocks during a landslide on Khanh Le Pass in Nam Khanh Vinh Commune.

Large landslides struck mountainous and steep pass areas, cutting off traffic and threatening residential safety.

Authorities said damage to property, infrastructure, and public works is still being tallied.

The province’s initial estimate stands at more than VND286 billion ($10.84 million).

Nam said the province has coordinated efforts to ensure reservoir safety and has evacuated more than 6,000 downstream residents to safer areas.

River levels remain below alarm level 3 but could rise again.

“We have response scenarios ready to ensure safety when water levels surge,” he told the deputy prime minister.

Nam also asked the central government to accelerate the Nha Trang-Da Lat expressway project, saying the route would support development and help prevent tragedies like the deadly rockslide on Khanh Le Pass.

Deputy PM Dung praised local authorities for their response but warned that weather conditions remain unpredictable.

Forecasts suggest more heavy rain and possible renewed flooding.

He urged the province to focus on searching for the missing and caring for victims of the Khanh Le Pass incident.

On evacuation, he stressed the need for proactive and decisive action.

“Relocate people to safe shelters, and authorities must ensure food supplies so that no one is left hungry or at risk,” he said.

He added that if manpower is insufficient, the province should request support from other units.

Dung also told Khanh Hoa to review reservoir operations to protect dams and downstream communities.

“We must be extremely prudent and scientific in regulating water at reservoirs to avoid improper discharges that could cause artificial flooding,” he said.

During the meeting, Dung presented a symbolic board for VND50 billion ($1.9 million) in emergency government aid to help Khanh Hoa address flood and landslide impacts.

He said this is an initial allocation and further support will be considered for the province’s recovery.