Troops were mobilized in central Vietnam after heavy rains caused floods and landslides, while amphibious armored vehicles were placed on standby for rescue operations, according to state media. Parts of the historic city of Hue flooded on Friday, a day after floods and landslides hit the coastal city of Da Nang. Authorities warned that continuing rain could cause flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as flooding in low-lying communities.
In Hue, the former imperial capital known for its palaces, rainfall exceeded 800 millimeters over three days. The heaviest rain was recorded in coastal lowlands and hilly areas in the southern part of the city, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. According to the forecast cited in the report, rain is expected to continue until Sunday morning.
In Da Nang, residential areas and roads flooded on Thursday, with water levels exceeding one meter in some places. Rescue teams helped evacuate children and move residents' belongings to safety. According to state media, nearly 130 soldiers were deployed and additional rescue teams were formed, while amphibious armored vehicles remained ready for use if conditions worsened.
One man remained missing after the boat he was traveling in with his wife capsized on the Truong Giang River on Wednesday afternoon. The couple were returning home after cutting grass when the boat overturned. The woman, who could not swim, clung to a sack of grass and drifted nearly 300 meters before residents rescued her, while her husband was swept away by the current, state media reported.
Landslides also blocked roads in the mountainous areas around Da Nang. In Tra Linh, a remote community in the southwestern highlands, soil, rocks and fallen trees blocked the road to a nearby settlement. Authorities cleared the debris and reopened part of the road, but reports said further landslides remained possible.
The rainy season in most of Vietnam usually lasts from May to November. Rainfall also caused major floods in the central part of the country the previous year. Rivers overflowed, inundating homes and tourist destinations in Hue and neighboring Hoi An.
Benjamin Horton, a professor of geosciences at City University of Hong Kong, told the Associated Press that governments can limit the damage from extreme rainfall, even though they cannot prevent it. In a written statement, he identified early warnings, preparing rescue teams, protecting critical infrastructure and evacuating residents before roads flood as key measures. He also included improvements to drainage systems.
Horton also stressed that recovery after a flood should strengthen resilience to the next such event. In his view, replacing damaged infrastructure alone is not enough. Reconstruction needs to include measures that will limit damage from future floods.
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