Many areas in Dak Lak Province are deeply submerged
A devastating flood caused by unprecedented rainfall in south central Vietnam has claimed the lives of at least 72 people, with a further 13 reported missing as of 5 pm on November 22, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The hardest-hit province is Dak Lak, where 44 people have died and eight remain unaccounted for. Khanh Hoa has recorded 14 deaths; Lam Dong and Gia Lai reported five deaths each; and Thua Thien Hue and Danang each reported two fatalities. The missing are distributed as follows: eight in Dak Lak, two each in Danang and Khanh Hoa, and one in Quang Tri.
Heavy rain over the past days triggered large-scale flooding, submerging hundreds of thousands of houses, cutting power to over one million households, and damaging numerous infrastructure works.
People walk on house roofs as floodwaters rise high in Dak Lak Province
Authorities estimate the economic damage at nearly VND 9,000 billion (approximately USD 358 million), with Dak Lak alone accounting for VND 5,300 billion (around USD 211 million) in losses, not including private household assets.
In a sign of relief, the rainfall in south central and Central Highlands regions has eased over the last two days, and floodwaters on the rivers are receding.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh visited Dak Lak on November 22 to oversee recovery efforts. Meanwhile the Vietnam Fatherland Front launched a national relief campaign to support flood-affected communities in the central coast and Central Highlands.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh visits residents Dak Lak on November 22.
Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper has pledged an emergency support package of VND 3 billion (about USD 119,000), raised through its charity programme, distributing VND 1 billion each to Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa.
Head of Dantri's office in the central-highlands region, Tran Duy Tuyen (second from right), hands over VND 1 billion in reader donations to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai to aid local flood recovery on November 22.
On November 22, the Dantri representative in the central-highlands region formally handed over VND 1 billion in reader donations to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai to aid local flood recovery.