The death toll from days of relentless torrential rain, flooding and landslides in central Vietnam has climbed to 41, state media reported on Thursday, as rising water levels continue to engulf towns and villages already under strain.
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More than 1,500 mm (60 inches) of rainfall has drenched the region over the past three days. Central Vietnam, known both as a major coffee-growing hub and a top tourist destination, remains highly vulnerable to severe storms and flooding.
In Lam Dong province, a suspension bridge over the Da Nhim River was swept away on Thursday morning, according to VietnamNet. A video circulating online captured the structure collapsing into the surging river within seconds, though Reuters could not independently verify its authenticity.
Flood damage has also severely affected power infrastructure, leaving more than half a million homes and businesses without electricity. Traders reported that high floodwaters are disrupting the ongoing coffee harvest, a key economic activity in the region.
The national weather agency warned that more heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides are likely through Friday.
Residents Stranded on Rooftops
State media images showed families, including children, stranded on rooftops as floodwaters surged beneath them. Many took to social media to appeal for help.
“Any group out there please help! We’ve been sitting on the roof since 10 p.m. last night, including kids and adults,” a resident in Khanh Hoa province wrote on a local Facebook page, accompanied by a photo of several people huddled on a metal roof amid pounding rain.
Large swathes of Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces were shown submerged in deep water.
Naval units have been deployed to assist rescue and relief efforts, the Vietnam News Agency reported, noting that flood levels have reached record highs in multiple areas.
At least nine people remain missing, and more than 52,000 homes and 15,000 hectares of crops have been inundated, according to the government’s disaster management agency, cited by VnExpress.
Seven-Year-Old Girl Rescued From Collapsed House
In Da Lat, a seven-year-old girl was rescued late Wednesday after being buried when a landslide destroyed part of the house she was in, Nhan Dan reported.
A photo released with the report showed the child’s hand sticking out from a mass of soil, rocks and broken concrete as rescuers reached the scene. She was freed after an hour and a half, suffering a broken leg, and was taken to hospital where she is now in stable condition.
