Nha Trang/Da Lat — A catastrophic weather system has turned Vietnam’s scenic Central Highlands and coastal resorts into disaster zones, claiming at least 16 lives and leaving thousands stranded on rooftops as rivers surged to levels not seen in over 30 years.
As of Thursday morning, relentless downpours have paralyzed the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa, prompting a massive military-led rescue operation.
1. The Human Toll: Rooftop Rescues and Landslide Tragedies
The death toll climbed to 16 after recovery teams located the bodies of victims buried by landslides in the mountainous passes connecting the highlands to the coast.
The Bus Tragedy: In one of the most heart-wrenching incidents, six passengers were killed when a landslide crushed a sleeper bus traveling the perilous route between Da Lat and Nha Trang on Sunday night.
Rooftop Survivals: In the low-lying areas of Gia Lai and Dak Lak, the scene was one of desperation. State media reported that rescue teams used boats to pry open tiled roofs, pulling exhausted families to safety as muddy waters swallowed entire villages.
"We had to break the ceiling to get out," said Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of a submerged commune in Dak Lak. "The water rose so fast, it was like a tsunami coming from the river."
2. A Tourist Paradise Under Water
Nha Trang, famous globally for its pristine beaches, has been transformed. Shocking images from AFP show whole city blocks submerged, with hundreds of cars floating in brown sludge.
Meanwhile, the flower city of Da Lat is reeling from multiple deadly landslides. The soaking rains—recording up to 600mm (2 feet) in some areas—have destabilized the soil, cutting off key transport arteries and trapping tourists and locals alike.
3. "Worse Than 1993": The Hydrological Nightmare
Meteorologists are calling this a historic event. The Ba River in Dak Lak has surpassed its legendary flood peak from 1993, driven by a combination of torrential rain and emergency water discharges from upstream hydropower dams.
The Discharge: The Song Ba Ha Hydropower Plant was forced to discharge over 16,000 cubic meters of water per second to prevent dam failure, exacerbating the flooding downstream.
The Cai River: In Khanh Hoa, the Cai River also surged to new record highs, breaching dikes and inundating agricultural heartlands.
4. Government Response and Climate Reality
The Ministry of Defense has deployed helicopters and amphibious vehicles to reach isolated communities. Emergency hotlines were overwhelmed on Wednesday night as water levels peaked.
Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy head of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, warned that the "double impact" of heavy rains and high tides is creating a worst-case scenario.
While Vietnam is accustomed to seasonal storms, experts point to this event as another grim marker of climate change. The frequency and intensity of these "rain bombs" are increasing, overwhelming infrastructure designed for the weather of the 20th century.