Credited from: ALJAZEERA
Devastating flooding in central Vietnam has resulted in at least 41 fatalities and left many stranded as heavy rain continues to batter the region. The downpours, which exceeded 150 cm (60 inches) in some areas over the past weekend, have triggered landslides and widespread evacuations, with nearly 62,000 people forced from their homes, according to reports from Al Jazeera and BBC.
Local authorities have mobilized rescue teams to assist those trapped, with reports of residents calling for help from rooftops as floodwaters surged. In coastal cities like Nha Trang and Hoi An, entire blocks were submerged, leaving businesses and homes underwater, while power outages affected over half a million households, according to data provided by Channel NewsAsia and BBC.
Emergency workers are conducting searches for up to nine missing persons across the hardest-hit areas, with a significant focus on Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces. Rescue efforts have involved cutting through roofs and assisting stranded residents using boats, emphasizing the urgent need for relief as floodwaters persisted, as reported by Al Jazeera and Channel NewsAsia.
Compounding the crisis, a suspension bridge in Lam Dong province was reported washed away as emergency shelters were set up to relocate residents to safety. The ongoing rains have been described as unprecedented, prompting fears of further destabilization, with governmental estimates placing the damage caused by natural disasters this year at over $2 billion, according to BBC.