Central Vietnam is reeling from catastrophic flooding and landslides that have left more than 100 people dead or missing after torrential rain battered the region. The disaster has prompted dramatic rescue operations, including one involving a drone that airlifted a stranded man to safety.
Record Rainfall and Widespread Destruction
The coastal city of Quy Nhon and surrounding provinces have been particularly hard hit, with rainfall exceeding 74.8 inches (1.9 metres) in some areas over the past week. This major coffee production belt, known for its popular beaches, is experiencing one of its worst flooding events in recent memory.
Fatalities have been reported across multiple provinces, including Dak Lak and neighbouring Khanh Hoa, where emergency services are working around the clock. The Vietnamese government estimates the economic damage at approximately 8.98 trillion dong (£260 million), with more than 235,000 houses flooded and nearly 80,000 hectares of crops destroyed.
Dramatic Drone Rescue Operation
In one of the most remarkable incidents, local police released footage showing an innovative rescue mission on the Serepok River in Dak Lak province. A drone was deployed to airlift a stranded man from an island in the middle of the raging river, demonstrating how technology is being utilised in emergency response.
Meanwhile, naval forces have been mobilised to assist stranded citizens in Khanh Hoa province, where floodwaters have reached record highs according to the Vietnam News Agency. Distressing photographs from state media show residents, including children, sitting on the roofs of their flooded homes in Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces.
Infrastructure Collapse and Further Rescues
The devastation extended to infrastructure with VietnamNet newspaper reporting that a suspension bridge on the Da Nhim River in Lam Dong province was completely swept away. Video evidence shows the structure being swallowed by the powerful currents within seconds.
In a separate rescue operation, emergency workers saved a seven-year-old girl in Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong province, after she was buried by a landslide. According to Nhan Dan newspaper, the landslide triggered by heavy rain knocked down part of the house where the girl was staying. She was pulled out after ninety minutes and hospitalised with a broken leg.
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of central Vietnam to extreme weather events, despite the region's importance to the country's agriculture and tourism sectors. Emergency response teams continue to battle challenging conditions to reach affected communities.
