South-central Vietnamese provinces race to rescue stranded residents as floods leave dozens dead, widespread destruction

Khanh Hoa’s fire and rescue unit said the calls — made through emergency hotlines and directly at its offices — came between last Sunday and Saturday. 

Rescue teams have recovered 10 bodies, helped more than 3,000 people reach safety, and delivered food and other relief supplies to areas cut off by landslides and deep water.

Local officials in Tay Khanh Son Commune said landslides had severed access to two villages, leaving 60 households isolated.

One resident was killed after being buried in a collapse, while nine homes were destroyed.

In nearby Ta Luong Village, 124 families remained stranded after floodwaters washed away a low-lying bridge. 

Authorities continued to ferry food and water to the area on Saturday.

The Khanh Le mountain pass, a key link along National Highway 27C, remained closed due to landslide risks and waterlogged slopes. 

Heavy rainfall this week left the pass unstable, officials said, following a deadly incident on November 16 in which falling rocks struck a passenger bus, killing six and injuring 18.

Power and water companies across the region reported widespread outages and infrastructure damage. 

In old Phu Yen Province, eight of nine water plants have resumed operations, but the Tuy Hoa plant remains offline after floodwaters severely damaged its pumps and controls, affecting more than 38,000 customers. 

Emergency crews are working around the clock to restore service within 48 hours.

In Dak Lak Province, police blocked access to the Giang Son bridge after two sand dredging vessels broke loose and threatened its structure. 

Strong currents have hampered inspection and repairs.

Rescue teams continued to evacuate vulnerable residents. 

On Friday night, troops in Lam Dong Province used specialized equipment to ferry a five-month-old baby with a high fever from a deeply-flooded hamlet after upstream hydropower dams released water.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, touring hard-hit areas of Dak Lak, urged authorities to deploy all available forces and ensure accurate information to avoid public panic. 

Local officials reported near-total inundation across 34 communes, with preliminary figures showing about 40 people dead, many more missing or injured, and an estimated VND5.5 trillion (US$208.7 million) in losses.

Provincial leaders said thousands of hectares of crops — including cassava and sugarcane — were destroyed, leaving many families without income. 

Military and police units have deployed roughly 10,000 personnel, hundreds of boats and vehicles, and mobile kitchens to deliver relief, clear debris and reopen key roads.

Senior military commanders said more than 5,500 soldiers have been mobilized in the region, with additional equipment ready for decontamination, sanitation and water-supply repairs. 

Authorities also warned against misinformation online and stressed the need for coordinated, factual updates on casualties and damage.

Restoring housing, sanitation and livelihoods will be priorities in the coming weeks, officials said, alongside efforts to stabilize electricity, drinking water and telecommunications.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said floodwaters remain high on the Krong Ana River and that a new tropical disturbance over the East Vietnam Sea has a 70-percent chance of developing into a storm early next week, potentially affecting Dak Lak and surrounding provinces. 

Emergency plans are being activated as the region braces for more severe weather.