Over 100 people dead and missing in Central and Central highlands floods
The floods have caused an estimated VND13.07 trillion (US$526 million) in economic losses, with Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa among the hardest-hit provinces, each suffering damage worth several thousand billion dong.
THE HANOI TIMES — Severe floods in the central and Central Highlands regions have killed 91 people and left 11 missing as of 6 PM on November 23, according to preliminary reports from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
Dak Lak recorded the highest number of fatalities, followed by Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong.
Heavy destruction and economic losses
The relief supplies reached the right people at the right time.
Beyond the human toll, the floods have caused an estimated VND13.07 trillion (US$526 million) in economic losses. Major damage was reported in Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa, which each suffered several thousand billions of dong in losses.
More than 82,000 hectares of rice and crops and 117,000 hectares of perennial trees were damaged, while over 3.3 million livestock and poultry were lost. Telecommunications disruptions were widespread, with 343 base transceiver stations in Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa disconnected.
Telecom providers are working to restore infrastructure and mobile network coverage.
Infrastructure systems also suffered severe damage, with landslides blocked 17 points along National Highways 20 and 27C and 15 railway sections on the Dong Tac-Phu Hiep and Phu Hiep-Hao Son routes remain under repair.
Power outages left 62 communes and wards in Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa offline from specialized data networks.
Government orders emergency response
A plane from the 370th Air Division delivered 4 tons of supplies from the Ministry of National Defense to support Dong Xuan commune. Photo: Van Tai
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, attending the 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa, convened an emergency online meeting on November 23 with the government’s Standing Committee, the National Civil Defense Steering Committee and leaders of the four hardest-hit provinces to direct immediate recovery actions.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc subsequently issued Decision No. 2572 allocating VND1.1 trillion in emergency funding for Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa and Gia Lai. On the same day, the Ministry of Finance released 4,000 tons of national reserve rice to the affected provinces.
Local authorities are helping residents clean and restore their homes after floodwaters receded.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment urged ministries and localities to prioritize the search for missing persons, medical treatment for the injured and direct support for families of the deceased and those whose homes were destroyed. Authorities were also directed to ensure food, clean water, temporary shelter and essential services for affected residents.
Local authorities were asked to urgently repair homes, restore electricity, telecommunications, transport, healthcare and education services and support agricultural recovery.
Tax relief, insurance payouts, loan restructuring and concessional credit packages are being deployed to help households and businesses return to production, especially ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year.
Provincial leaders received financial support from organizations, businesses, and individuals to help residents recover from the damages caused by natural disasters.
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The Ministry of National Defense has directed and deployed 44,668 military personnel and 2,231 vehicles to deliver and distribute 86.5 tons of supplies, including civilian clothing, water purification tablets, and 3,000 boxes of instant noodles. Three helicopters were also deployed to airdrop relief goods to residents in flood-affected areas. The police force mobilized 98,509 officers and personnel, along with 13,566 vehicles, to maintain public order and assist in flood response and recovery operations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with international organizations to provide food aid, including sausages, biscuits, milk and bottled water, to residents in flooded areas of Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces, while also supplying 1,500 boxes of instant noodles to Dak Lak. The Ministry of Finance released 4,000 tons of rice from national reserves to the affected provinces, with 2,000 tons each to Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa. The Ministry of Health mobilized and distributed 6 tons of chemicals and 150,000 water purification tablets, along with 3,000 essential family medicine kits to flood-affected areas. The Ministry of Construction has overseen the repair of National Highway 1, with 13 sections on various highways still blocked by localized landslides and undergoing clearance. The electricity sector has restored power to over 920,000 customers, while efforts continue to reconnect 258,000 households still without electricity. Telecom providers have implemented roaming services since the morning of November 19, 2025, in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa to maintain communications. |
