As of June 15, the rain had stopped, but floodwaters from unseasonal rains between June 10 and 14 continue to inundate low-lying areas, leaving behind a trail of agricultural devastation.
The freak flooding, caused by heavy rainfall linked to Storm Wutip, has submerged vast tracts of farmland just weeks after the start of the summer crop season.
In Hue City, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported that approximately 22,418 hectares of rice paddies out of a total 25,126 hectares have been flooded. Preliminary estimates suggest between 5,000 and 10,000 hectares may need to be replanted.
In addition to the rice paddies, over 1,231 hectares of vegetables and 18.5 hectares of fruit trees have been submerged, putting the livelihoods of countless farming households at risk.
Despite water levels not yet fully receding, many farmers in low-lying communes such as Quang Thanh, Quang Tho and Quang Phu in Quang Dien District, Hue City, began wading through knee-deep floodwaters on June 13 to salvage what they could.
Nguyen Thi Hue, a farmer in Quang Tho Commune, shared that most peanut crops were only 50 to 70 per cent mature at the time of harvest.
“We had no choice but to dig them up early. If we waited any longer, they would rot from being submerged too long,” she said.
In Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province, watermelon farmers faced similar ruin.
Truong May, a local grower, said he was just one week away from harvesting his nearly 1,000-square-metre watermelon field. He had expected to earn over VND 30 million (approximately USD 1,200), but the floods wiped out everything.
“After the flood receded and the sun came out, the vines started wilting and the fruit began to rot,” May said sorrowfully.
Authorities have not yet finalised damage assessments as many areas remain underwater. However, local officials warn that the scale of replanting and economic loss may be extensive, especially for poor farming households already struggling with narrow profit margins.