Vietnam Flood Death Toll Rises to 35 Amid Record Rainfall

Torrential rains and severe flooding in central Vietnam have claimed at least 35 lives this week, with five others still missing, according to disaster management officials on Sunday.

The coastal provinces of the country have been battered by relentless downpours since last weekend, with rainfall reaching a record 1.7 metres (5 feet 6 inches) over a 24-hour period between last Sunday and Monday.

The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) reported that the fatalities occurred across the provinces of Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Quang Tri.

In the ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, floodwaters have reached waist height, forcing residents to travel by wooden boats through the city’s submerged streets. Officials said the local river had overflowed to levels not seen in 60 years, while heavy rain continued into Sunday.

The VDDMA also reported widespread devastation, with more than 16,500 homes flooded, over 40,000 poultry and livestock swept away, and more than 5,300 hectares (around 13,000 acres) of farmland inundated.

Authorities have warned that further rainfall is expected, heightening the risk of additional flooding and landslides in the already hard-hit central provinces.