Heavy rain swept central Vietnam on Monday, triggering landslides and floods, killing at least seven, injuring dozens and stranding thousands as a major search operation is underway
Torrential downpours have battered central Vietnam, sparking devastating landslides and flooding that claimed at least seven lives, wounded dozens more, and left thousands cut off. The catastrophic weather has caused widespread havoc across a region still reeling from flooding triggered by record-breaking rainfall and the ferocious typhoon Kalmaegi just weeks earlier.
Meteorologists predict rainfall could reach 30–60 centimetres (12–24 inches) across parts of central Vietnam through Wednesday, with certain areas potentially seeing more than 85 centimetres (33 inches).
The severely affected coastal province of Khanh Hoa, characterised by its mountainous interior, experienced some of its most intense rainfall in years on Sunday evening when debris and boulders crashed down onto a coach travelling through the Khanh Le pass in the central highlands, according to state media.
The devastating landslide struck the front of the vehicle at approximately 9.30 pm local time, claiming six lives and leaving numerous passengers trapped.
Emergency crews battled for hours to access the site as the relentless rain had also triggered landslides on either side of the pass, blocking all routes. Rescue workers only managed to reach the coach after midnight, state media reported.
“Rocks and soil fell down with a loud bang. I was thrown on the roof of the bus before falling down,” Nguyen Long Cuong, the 39 year old bus conductor, told state media VN Express. A bus carrying 32 passengers from Vietnam’s financial hub, Ho Chi Minh City, was en route from Da Lat in the central highlands to the seaside city of Nha Trang when disaster struck.
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, while state media reported that two bodies remained trapped under wreckage due to the challenging terrain. The scenic yet treacherous 33-kilometre (20-mile) stretch, etched into steep mountain slopes, is a tourist favourite but notorious for landslides during the rainy season.
Recent downpours have triggered numerous landslides on key routes in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, leading to the suspension of traffic on several hilly passes, according to state media.
In another incident in Khanh Hoa, sodden soil gave way at the Khanh Son pass on Sunday night, burying ten workers. One worker was killed, another injured, and one more remains missing, while the remaining seven managed to escape unscathed.
Flooding also wreaked havoc in the port city of Cam Ranh and the coastal district of Cam Lam on Sunday night, submerging over 100 metres (328 ft) of railway lines under water and debris. As a result, over 800 passengers on four trains were left stranded as of Monday evening.
On Monday, floodwaters swamped the Du Long Industrial Park, home to several factories including German and South Korean firms. Torrential rains submerged factories under 1 metre (3.2 feet) of water and caused power outages, forcing thousands of workers to cease operations.
Heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding of a national highway in Dak Lak province, leading to police cordoning off the road and rerouting traffic.
In Hue city, Sunday’s floods caused landslides in hilly regions, obstructing a key highway that connects northern and southern Vietnam, leaving several villages cut off and thousands isolated. Meanwhile, in Quang Ngai province, downpours ranging from 150 to 235 mm (5.9–9.3 inches) led to the collapse of a bridge over a stream, stranding 1,200 locals in remote hamlets.
A tornado wreaked havoc on Sunday night in the southern parts of Danang city and Quang Ngai province, tearing roofs off numerous houses, uprooting trees and scattering debris.
Vietnam ranks among the globe’s most flood-prone nations, with nearly half its population residing in areas at high risk. Scientists caution that rising global temperatures are amplifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides increasingly devastating and frequent.
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