FLOODS CLAIM 13 LIVES IN CENTRAL VIETNAM AS RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE. (PHOTO).

 Floods claim 13 lives in central Vietnam as rescue efforts continue

HANOI, VIETNAM - Rescue operations intensified Friday across central Vietnam as floodwaters began to recede following days of record rainfall and deadly landslides that have killed at least 13 people, left 11 missing, and displaced tens of thousands. The easing waters allowed emergency teams to reach communities that had been cut off, with nearly 26,000 residents evacuated from areas vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

The government deployed helicopters and troops to deliver food, medicine, and other essential supplies while working to repair homes, clear debris, and prevent disease outbreaks. Roads, power lines, and schools are being restored, and emergency rice aid is scheduled for distribution by Saturday. The country’s North–South railway, a vital link between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, reopened early Friday after three days of closures, with hundreds of workers laboring overnight to repair damaged tracks. Flooding has lessened in coastal cities such as Hue and Danang, but state media warns that widespread flooding may continue over the next two days.

Since Oct. 26, torrential rains and landslides have submerged homes, destroyed infrastructure, and displaced thousands. Hue recorded 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) of rain in a single 24-hour period earlier this week—the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in Vietnam. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for emergency measures to speed recovery and ensure that no one is left without food or shelter.

Disaster officials report that around 120,000 homes were affected by the floods, with 56 completely destroyed and 147 severely damaged. Temporary shelters are being arranged for families who lost their homes. Meteorologists say a surge of cool air from the north colliding with warm, moisture-laden winds from the sea fueled the storms, forcing rain clouds against the mountains and causing intense rainfall. Heavy rain is expected to continue in parts of central Vietnam through Nov. 4, with some areas forecast to receive over 700 millimeters.

Central Vietnam is no stranger to tropical storms and heavy rains, but experts say the scale of this week’s flooding highlights the growing risks from shifting rainfall patterns linked to climate change. Nearly half of Vietnam’s population lives in flood-prone regions, making the country one of the most vulnerable to extreme weather events worldwide.