This urgent deployment comes as the central region faces one of the most devastating floods in decades, with water levels on several rivers surpassing historic peaks last recorded in 1986 and 1993. Days of relentless rainfall caused water to rise by the hour, with sudden surges in the middle of the night overwhelming entire neighborhoods, submerging homes, cutting off roads, and trapping thousands of locals.

Floodwaters rise overnight

From the night of November 18 to the morning of November 20, floodwaters surged across the eastern part of Gia Lai province, inundating vast residential areas in Bac Quy Nhon, Dong Quy Nhon, and Tay Quy Nhon wards and Tuy Phuoc and Tuy Phuoc Dong communes. Water levels surpassed the 2009 historic flood mark, leaving roads deeply submerged under torrents of muddy, fast-moving water.

In Dak Lak, National Highway 1 through Tuy An Bac commune was entirely cut off. The normally small streams turned into violent currents that swept through villages; many areas were submerged 1–3m deep. Local authorities described it as the most critical situation ever recorded.

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting continued to warn of extreme flooding on November 20, with risks of historic water levels persisting across six provinces and cities, namely Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa.

A lifeline amid the deluge

Facing the escalating crisis, Colonel Phan Dai Nghia, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Military Region 5, ordered the establishment of a forward command post in Bac Quy Nhon ward to coordinate rescue efforts with units stationed across the province.

According to initial reports, 25 locations in Gia Lai province were severely flooded. Landslides struck key roads near Vinh Son commune, Vuot Ba Pass, Nha Sam Pass, and provincial road 667. Entire communities were encircled by rising water.

Since November 15, the Gia Lai Military Command has mobilised more than 1,500 officers and soldiers, Border Guard forces, militia, and additional support from Military School of Corps 3, South Central Police Regiment, Naval Region 4, Division 2, Brigade 573 and various other units. Dozens of motorboats, canoes, armoured vehicles, and rescue equipment were deployed.

By November 20, military forces have relocated 2,463 households, rescued 142 people in emergencies, and managed traffic at 98 deep-flooded checkpoints.

Battling through floodwaters to reach trapped residents

In Bac Quy Nhon ward, where water rose nearly two meters overnight, troops worked nonstop using canoes, motorboats, and even BTR-152 armoured vehicles to break through violent waters and reach isolated homes.

In the bitter cold and darkness, soldiers waded through churning floodwaters up to their chests, gripping flashlights, life jackets, and rescue ropes tied to house pillars to avoid being swept away.

In some places, the current was too strong for boats to approach, forcing soldiers to climb over fences and maneuver around submerged power lines to carry elderly residents and young children to safety. Some worked more than six hours straight in icy water, barely pausing before returning into the flooded zones.

Luu Thi Anh Nguyet, a 30-year-old resident of Nhon Phu ward, recounted her terrifying experience, “I was riding home when the water surged suddenly. My motorbike stalled and sank. I panicked, I didn’t know what to do. The soldiers arrived just in time. If they hadn’t come, I don’t know what would have happened. I’m so grateful to them.”

No one left behind

In Tuy Phuoc commune, where the Ha Thanh River overflowed violently, Major Luong Quoc Thien, a political officer of Military Region 1, carried a 93-year-old woman through deep water to a rescue vehicle.

After ensuring she was safe, he hurried back into the flooded streets:

“There are still many elderly people and children inside. The water is rising fast. We have to get to them immediately,” he said.

In areas completely cut off, where boats could not approach, the Gia Lai Military Command innovatively used drones to deliver essential supplies, a measure rarely seen in previous disasters.

“We will not withdraw until every resident is safe. No one will be left behind,” affirmed Lieutenant Colonel Truong The Huan, Deputy Commander of Brigade 573.

With rains still pounding the region and water levels expected to rise further, soldiers across Military Region 5 remain on full alert, working round the clock to respond to new emergencies.

Amid the dark, cold, swirling waters, the image of soldiers wading through the night, carrying elderly residents, guiding frightened families, rescuing stranded children, and braving danger without hesitation, has become a powerful symbol of hope for thousands in central Vietnam.

Historic flooding: Thousands evacuated overnight as rivers surge beyond record levels

VOV.VN - Continuous torrential rain from the night of November 18 to the early hours of November 19 triggered one of the most severe flooding events across central Vietnam in recent years.