In the heart of Vietnam’s central region, a relentless series of downpours has unleashed catastrophic flooding, leaving communities reeling and officials scrambling to respond. As of Friday night, October 31, 2025, the death toll from the flooding had climbed to 28, with six people still missing and at least 43 others injured, according to the local daily VnExpress. The devastation has been widespread, with more than 22,100 homes remaining submerged, particularly in the cities of Hue and Da Nang, and the region bracing for several more days of hardship.
The scale of the disaster is staggering. Floods and landslides have not only destroyed or swept away 91 houses but also damaged another 181, displacing countless families and leaving them in urgent need of shelter. The impact on daily life has been profound: about 245,000 households are still without power, most of them in Da Nang, where more than 225,000 families are affected. The blackout has compounded the difficulties faced by residents, many of whom are struggling to access clean water, food, and medical care.
National infrastructure has not been spared. According to VnExpress, a total of 80 sites along national highways are either blocked or severely disrupted due to landslides, hampering rescue and relief efforts. The historic city of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been particularly hard-hit, with haunting images of residents rowing boats through submerged streets capturing the scale of the crisis. Meanwhile, the ancient citadel in Hue, a symbol of Vietnam’s cultural heritage, sits partially underwater, a stark reminder of the floods’ reach and the vulnerability of even the most cherished landmarks.
The situation remains fluid and dangerous. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned that heavy rainfall—up to 700 millimeters in some areas—is expected to continue in the provinces of Quang Tri, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An through at least November 4. This persistent deluge threatens to prolong the flooding and raises the specter of further landslides, complicating rescue operations and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
By Thursday evening, as reported by VOVWORLD, the floods had already left 22 people dead or missing and inundated an astonishing 120,000 houses. The damage to infrastructure—schools, roads, medical facilities, and power lines—was described as severe, with localities struggling to keep up with the mounting needs of their populations. The loss and disruption have been felt at every level, from families who have lost their homes to businesses unable to operate and children unable to attend school.
In response to the escalating emergency, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an official dispatch on October 30, 2025, calling for an all-hands-on-deck approach from local authorities. The message was clear and urgent: continue searching for the missing, provide free treatment for the injured, and support funeral arrangements for those who have lost their lives. The Prime Minister’s directive underscored the government’s commitment to leaving no one behind, stating emphatically, “No one should be left hungry, cold, or without accommodation.”
Rescue forces have been mobilized across the affected provinces, working tirelessly to reach areas still isolated by floodwaters and landslides. Their tasks are daunting: delivering food, drinking water, medicine, and other essentials; transporting the injured and sick to hospitals; and arranging temporary shelter for families whose homes have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. The logistical challenges are immense, with blocked roads and ongoing rainfall making every mission a race against time and the elements.
Local governments have also been directed to marshal every available resource—equipment, manpower, and materials—to begin the painstaking work of repairing and rebuilding. Schools, roads, medical facilities, as well as electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, are all in urgent need of attention. The dispatch from the Prime Minister emphasized not only the immediate relief efforts but also the importance of swift environmental cleanup and disease prevention following the floods, as well as the prompt stabilization of livelihoods and restoration of production and business activities.
“The dispatch calls for swift environmental cleanup, disease prevention efforts, and prompt stabilization of livelihoods and restoration of production and business activities,” VOVWORLD reported, highlighting the government’s recognition that the path to recovery will be long and complex. The risk of waterborne illnesses and other health crises looms large in the aftermath of such widespread flooding, making public health interventions a top priority alongside the provision of food and shelter.
While the government’s response has been robust, the scale of the disaster means that many challenges remain. The region’s battered infrastructure, combined with the forecast of continued heavy rainfall, has left many communities anxious about what the coming days will bring. The prospect of further flooding and landslides is a grim reality, and with so many households still without power, the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those with medical needs—are at particular risk.
Yet, amid the hardship, stories of resilience and solidarity have emerged. Rescue teams, local volunteers, and neighbors have banded together to help those in need, often at great personal risk. Temporary shelters have sprung up in schools and community centers, offering a measure of safety and comfort to those who have lost everything. Aid organizations and local businesses have mobilized to provide food, water, and medical supplies, demonstrating the strength of communal bonds in the face of adversity.
The floods have also reignited conversations about the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the pressing need for long-term solutions. Central Vietnam is no stranger to typhoons and seasonal flooding, but the intensity and frequency of recent disasters have raised questions about climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and the adequacy of emergency preparedness. While immediate relief is the priority, many are calling for a renewed focus on building back better—strengthening flood defenses, improving drainage systems, and investing in early warning technologies to reduce the impact of future storms.
For now, however, the focus remains on saving lives, delivering aid, and helping the region’s residents weather the ongoing storm. As the rain continues to fall and rivers swell, the people of central Vietnam are bracing for more difficult days ahead, even as they draw on reserves of courage and community spirit that have seen them through disasters before. The hope, echoed in the Prime Minister’s dispatch and the actions of countless volunteers, is that no one will be left behind as the nation rallies to confront this latest test.
With floodwaters expected to persist for another one to two days and the threat of further rain looming, central Vietnam faces a pivotal moment. How the country responds in the coming hours and days will shape not only the immediate recovery but also the region’s resilience in the face of future challenges.
