Dak Lak province has suffered the greatest loss of life with 16 fatalities, followed by Khanh Hoa province with 14, Lam Dong with four, Gia Lai with three, and both Thua Thien–Hue and Da Nang with two deaths each.

Heavy downpours have caused widespread flooding, damaging 167 houses and inundating more than 52,000 homes, particularly in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa. Agricultural losses are also significant, with over 13,000 hectares of crops, about 2,100 hectares of perennial trees, 88 hectares of aquaculture, and more than 30,700 livestock and poultry affected.

Transport infrastructure has been severely disrupted. Many sections of major highways, including National Highways 1, 14, 14E, 14H, 40B, 20 and the Ho Chi Minh Highway, have been cut off due to landslides and deep flooding. More than 140 landslides have occurred on provincial roads. Damage at Prenn Pass and Mimosa Pass in Lam Dong has forced the province to declare a state of emergency.

Over the past two days, the railway sector has suspended 14 passenger trains, while Tuy Hoa Airport halted operations from 10 a.m. on November 20 until midday on November 21. More than one million customers have experienced power outages, and electricity has been restored to about 615,000 of them.

Authorities have mobilised large forces to respond. The Ministry of National Defence has deployed 18,000 personnel, 441 vehicles and four helicopters prepared to deliver two tonnes of food and essential goods. Provincial police forces have also mobilised nearly 42,000 officers and more than 3,200 vehicles for rescue operations.

Several provinces have requested urgent assistance. Dak Lak has asked for 2,000 tonnes of rice from national reserves along with disinfectants, water treatment chemicals, first-aid kits, rescue boats, canoes, high-capacity vessels, life jackets and high-powered flashlights. Lam Dong has requested financial support amounting to VND600 billion and proposed that Military Region 7 assist in repairing damaged transportation infrastructure. Khanh Hoa has asked for DT3 rescue boats, power generators, life buoys, life jackets and lightweight rafts to support ongoing emergency efforts.

Rain is forecast to continue to lash the central region from the evening of November 20 until the end of November 21. Localities from Da Nang to Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa are expected to receive 70 to 150 mm of rain, with some locations experiencing up to 250 mm. The following day will see rainfall decrease to below 50mm, though certain areas may receive over 200 mm.

Soldiers battle raging floods, race against time to save lives in Central Vietnam

VOV.VN - The Ministry of National Defence on November 20 deployed two Mi-171 helicopters to the severely flooded areas of Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak provinces to conduct emergency search-and-rescue operations and deliver relief supplies.