41 Dead, 52,000 Homes Flooded in Central Vietnam's Historic Deluge

This week's severe flooding has resulted in 41 deaths and 9 people reported missing in central Vietnam, according to officials on Thurs...

This week's severe flooding has resulted in 41 deaths and 9 people reported missing in central Vietnam, according to officials on Thursday, with Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces experiencing the most significant loss of life.

As per the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dak Lak has reported 16 fatalities, followed by Khanh Hoa with 14, Lam Dong with 4, Gia Lai with 3, and Hue and Da Nang each having two.

Floods caused damage to 167 homes and flooded over 52,000 additional properties in the region, with approximately 23,000 in Dak Lak, 19,200 in Gia Lai, and 9,000 in Khanh Hoa.

More than 13,000 hectares of agricultural land, 2,100 hectares of long-term tree cultivation, 88 hectares of water-based farming, and over 30,700 animals in the form of livestock and poultry were affected.

Individuals navigate a coracle through a flooded street in Nha Trang, located in Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam, during the afternoon of November 20, 2025. Image courtesy of VnExpress/Thanh Tung

Highways 1, 14, 14E, 14H, 40B, 20, and Truong Son Dong experienced over 30 landslides or deeply flooded areas, leading to extended traffic delays. More than 140 landslides were reported on local roads. Landslides at Prenn Pass and the fault zone near Mimosa Pass, linked to the tourist city of Da Lat, caused Lam Dong Province to announce a state of emergency.

Railway operations have stopped 14 passenger trains in the last two days. Tuy Hoa Airport in Dak Lak will be closed from 10 a.m. to midnight on November 20.

Over a million customers experienced power outages; almost 615,000 homes have now been restored.

The Defense Department has activated 18,000 individuals and 441 vehicles; four helicopters are ready with two tons of supplies for remote areas. Provincial police have sent almost 42,000 officers and over 3,200 vehicles for relief efforts.

Dak Lak has asked for 2,000 tons of food from the national stockpile, along with medical supplies, water purification materials, first-aid kits, inflatable boats, canoes, big ships, life jackets, and flashlights.

Lam Dong has requested VND600 billion (US$22.7 million) in recovery aid and support from the engineering units of Military Region 7 to fix damaged roads, while Khanh Hoa requires 6,000 buoys, 3,000 life vests, and 50 small rafts.

Rainfall easing

Heavy rainfall has battered Central Vietnam for several hours.

Rainfall between 7 p.m. on November 19 and 5 p.m. on November 20 amounted to approximately 300 mm in Dak Lak, 220 mm in Gia Lai, and as much as 665 mm in Khanh Hoa, although it started to decrease from midday on November 20.

The water level on the Ba River in Dak Lak is 2.3 meters above alarm level 3, the highest threshold, and has dropped by 4.19 meters from its peak at 1 a.m., which surpassed the historical 1993 flood by 1.09 meters.

In Khanh Hoa, the Dinh Ninh Hoa River is 1.04 meters higher than level 3, exceeding the flood levels recorded in 1986.

The weather authority predicts rainfall of 70–150 mm, with local amounts reaching up to 250 mm, from Thursday night until Friday in the eastern Da Nang–Dak Lak area and northern Khanh Hoa, followed by 50–100 mm on Friday and Saturday.

Unusual mix of atmospheric conditions

A region in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, was submerged on November 20, 2025. Photo courtesy of VnExpress/Thanh Tung

Dr. Truong Ba Kien, the Deputy Head of the Center for Meteorological and Climate Research, stated that the extended period of heavy rain resulted from multiple strong weather systems happening at the same time.

A more intense cold snap advanced further south and earlier than typical. As it was obstructed by the southern Truong Son mountain range, the wind direction changed to northeast and east, increasing precipitation. Powerful winds from the sea brought additional moisture, which gathered along the landscape.

"This resulted in a broad convergence area, leading to heavy and prolonged precipitation," Kien noted, mentioning that the system was bolstered by a strong Pacific high-pressure ridge.

Sea surface temperatures in the East Sea remain 1–1.5 degrees C higher than usual even during the cold season. Warmer waters enhance moisture levels, leading to heavier rainfall as onshore winds interact with mountainous areas.

An active cloud band near the equator has also moved northward in recent days, leading to more atmospheric disruptions and maintaining rainfall in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands.

Kien pointed out that ongoing climate change is causing the atmosphere and oceans to warm, enabling the air to retain more water vapor, which results in more severe and extended periods of rainfall.