Rescue teams and aid workers in central Vietnam are scrambling to reach remote areas devastated by floods and landslides that have killed at least 37 people, as another powerful typhoon threatens to strike later this week, officials said Monday.
Days of torrential rain starting in late October triggered flash floods and landslides that submerged entire villages, destroyed homes, and displaced tens of thousands. Power outages and network disruptions continued across several provinces, including Danang, while major roads and highways remained blocked by debris and erosion along rivers and coastlines.
Meteorologists warned that Typhoon Kalmaegi is rapidly strengthening as it heads toward Vietnam’s central coast. The storm is expected to reach wind speeds of up to 166 kilometers per hour (103 mph) when it enters the South China Sea on Wednesday after crossing the Philippines, according to Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Although rescuers managed to reach many stranded residents late last week during a brief lull in the weather, rivers began swelling again Monday. The Huong and Bo rivers in Hue City have reached dangerous levels, and authorities cautioned that heavy rainfall will likely persist across the region.
State media reported that emergency teams are distributing food, clean water, and medical supplies while helping families rebuild damaged homes. Efforts are also underway to clear debris, restore electricity and transportation links, and prevent disease outbreaks. The government is repairing irrigation systems and assisting farmers to restart crop and livestock production once waters recede.
The latest floods and landslides have left 37 dead, five missing, and 78 injured, officials said.
Vietnam has endured a relentless string of storms this year. Typhoon Ragasa unleashed severe rains in late September, followed by Typhoon Bualoi, which pounded the central coast, and Typhoon Matmo, which caused heavy flooding in the north. Together, those storms left over 85 people dead or missing and caused an estimated $1.36 billion in damages.
With nearly half of its population living in high-risk flood zones, Vietnam remains one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to flooding. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making destructive floods like these increasingly frequent.
