Vu Xuan Thanh, deputy head of the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention, said on September 16 that Vietnam had experienced 20 of 22 types of natural disasters between the start of the year and September 14.
Northern and central Vietnam have experienced six floods so far this year. Natural disasters have left 63 people dead or missing and caused estimated economic losses of more than VND 2.221 trillion (USD 84.4 million), down 84.9 per cent from the same period in 2025.
Through the end of the year, flood peaks on small rivers in northern Vietnam and rivers from Quang Tri to Dak Lak could reach warning level two to above level three, posing high risks of flash floods, landslides and inundation.
El Nino could also cause rainfall shortages of 10-50 per cent in central and southern Vietnam in the final months of the year, potentially affecting agricultural production and water supplies.
Authorities called for round-the-clock monitoring of weather forecasts and warnings, particularly for heavy rain, flooding and inundation in mountainous urban areas.
When heavy rain is forecast, local authorities and communities should clear waterways, install warning signs and evacuate residents from areas prone to severe flooding, Thanh said. Reservoirs should also be operated appropriately to avoid worsening downstream flooding.
In the longer term, local authorities were urged to identify the causes of flooding and accelerate drainage and retention reservoir projects to improve temporary water storage and drainage capacity.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is also drafting a national disaster prevention plan for the 2026-2030 phase, aligned with Vietnam's national disaster prevention strategy through 2030, with a vision to 2050.