Post by : Rameen Ariff

HANOI: Vietnam is facing one of its most challenging years of natural disasters, as heavy rainfall in the south-central region has triggered severe flooding and deadly landslides. State media reported on Friday, December 5, that at least two people have died and more than a dozen landslides have occurred, causing widespread disruption across the country. Authorities described 2025 as the “most unusual” year in Vietnam’s history for natural disasters, with unprecedented floods affecting hundreds of thousands of homes.

The downpours have particularly impacted popular coastal tourist areas, submerging thousands of residences and forcing large-scale evacuations. Lam Dong province suffered significantly, with at least two fatalities reported and sixteen landslides damaging roads and bridges. Rescue teams have been delivering food and clean water to affected communities by boat as floodwaters remain as deep as two meters in some areas, according to local residents.

Residents expressed shock at the scale of the flooding, noting that their province is usually considered safe from such severe storms. Many hope that the water levels will recede in the coming days so that normal life can resume.

Officials highlighted the extraordinary nature of the current crisis, with Hoang Duc Cuong, deputy director of the Environment Ministry’s meteorology and hydrology department, stating that 2025 has witnessed the highest number of storms on record. A total of 21 storms, including 15 typhoons and six tropical depressions, have affected Vietnam this year, far surpassing the typical 10 typhoons or storms recorded annually. The country has also seen extreme rainfall, with rivers reaching record high-water levels from the northern regions through central Vietnam and down to the lower Mekong Delta. In one area of central Vietnam, rainfall reached a staggering 1,739mm within just 24 hours.

The year’s disasters have caused devastating consequences, leaving over 400 people dead or missing and inflicting economic losses exceeding US$3.6 billion. Experts point to human-driven climate change as a key factor contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Vietnam.

Vietnam is not alone in facing such extreme weather in Asia. Recent floods across the region, including in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, underscoring the growing vulnerability of Southeast Asian nations to climate-related disasters.

The unprecedented floods and landslides in Vietnam this year highlight the urgent need for disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and climate mitigation efforts to protect communities from the worsening impact of natural disasters.

#Global News #Asia News