Post by : Rameen Ariff

Central Vietnam — The death toll from severe floods in central Vietnam has risen to 13, officials confirmed on Friday, as residents in the UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An began cleanup operations after water levels started to recede.

Record rainfall over the past days has inundated large areas of central Vietnam, with Hoi An and the former imperial city of Hue among the hardest hit. State media photos show houses submerged up to their roofs, while streets remain waterlogged.

Flooding in Hoi An, a historic town and former Southeast Asian trading hub, has disrupted daily life and tourism. “I have witnessed floods many times, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said local resident Tran Van Tien, 60.

The disaster has left 11 people missing, damaged over 116,000 homes, destroyed 5,000 hectares of crops, and cut off roads and railways, disrupting traffic and electricity in several areas, the government’s disaster agency reported.

Tourism, a major economic driver in Hoi An, has been severely affected, with most visitors canceling bookings. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a hotel manager, said, “Floodwater rose too quickly, causing significant property damage. I hope the floods won’t happen again so we can reopen our hotel.”

Meteorologists have warned that heavy rain will continue through Saturday, with daily totals exceeding 500 mm in some regions, raising concerns about further flooding. Authorities continue rescue and relief operations, providing aid to displaced families and monitoring river levels across the region.

The floods highlight Vietnam’s vulnerability to storm and monsoon season disasters, which regularly cause property damage, crop losses, and fatalities during the June to October period.

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