Post by : Rameen Ariff

Hoi An, Vietnam – Catastrophic flooding in Vietnam has claimed at least 10 lives this week, leaving eight others missing, as the water level of the Thu Bon River surged to a 60-year high near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An ancient town, authorities reported Thursday.

Vietnam’s central coastal provinces have been battered by relentless heavy rains since the weekend, with a record-breaking 1.7 meters of rainfall recorded in just 24 hours. The floods have inundated more than 128,000 houses across five provinces, with water reaching depths of up to three meters in some areas.

Residents waded through waist-deep water in Hoi An’s streets on Thursday, as the ground floors of shops and homes remained submerged. Local infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with several kilometres of roads blocked by flooding and landslides. Agricultural losses are staggering, with over 5,000 hectares of crops destroyed and more than 16,000 cattle reported dead.

Flood levels at a measuring station on the Thu Bon River, which flows through Danang before emptying into the sea at Hoi An, surpassed the historic 1964 level by four centimeters, reaching 5.62 meters late Wednesday, according to the national weather bureau.

“Normally, the flooding lasts only three days, and then we can start cleaning up,” said Danang resident Le Thi Thi, 58. “I don’t think I ever experienced this prolonged and terribly high flooding in my life.”

Authorities report that water levels have begun to slowly recede in Danang and Hue city, though they remain dangerously high. Environmental experts warn that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events like these floods, making them increasingly deadly and destructive.

Natural disasters, primarily storms, floods, and landslides, have already claimed 187 lives or left people missing in Vietnam during the first nine months of 2025. The total economic losses from these disasters are estimated at over $610 million, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and climate resilience measures.

Vietnamese authorities continue rescue operations, providing relief and emergency support to affected families while assessing the extensive damage caused by this unprecedented flood.

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