Sun Nov 23 06:45:05 UTC 2025: News Article:

Vietnam Floods Claim 90 Lives, Cause $343 Million in Damages

Hanoi, Vietnam – Severe flooding across south-central Vietnam has resulted in at least 90 deaths and an estimated $343 million in economic losses across five provinces, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Relentless rains since late October have inundated homes, destroyed crops, and disrupted infrastructure.

The mountainous central province of Dak Lak has been hit hardest, accounting for 63 of the fatalities and leaving thousands of homes submerged. At least 12 people remain missing. Farmer Mach Van Si, recounting his experience to AFP, described how he and his wife were stranded on their rooftop for two nights as floodwaters ravaged their neighborhood.

Over 80,000 hectares of rice and other crops have been damaged, and more than 3.2 million livestock and poultry have perished. Key infrastructure has also been severely impacted, with several locations on national highways blocked due to flooding and landslides, and sections of railways suspended. In Khanh Hoa province, two suspension bridges were washed away.

Authorities have launched rescue and relief efforts, utilizing helicopters to airdrop essential supplies to isolated communities. The government has deployed tens of thousands of personnel to distribute clothing, water purification tablets, and food.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has allocated significant funds to aid in recovery efforts, including 500 billion Vietnamese dollars ($19 million) for Dak Lak to rebuild homes and infrastructure. Additional funds have been earmarked for Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa provinces. The Prime Minister has set deadlines for completing home repairs and building new houses for those who lost everything, aiming to provide shelter before the Lunar New Year.

The floods are part of a larger pattern of devastating natural disasters that have plagued Vietnam this year, resulting in 279 deaths or disappearances and over $2 billion in damages between January and October. Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, making them more frequent and destructive in the region.

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