Vietnam Floods Claim 13 Lives as Hoi An Begins Cleanup

The death toll from devastating floods in central Vietnam has climbed to 13, with rescue teams racing against time to locate 11 others still missing. The historic towns of Hoi An and Hue, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, have been among the worst hit, as torrential rains submerged homes, streets, and farmland over the past few days.

Unrelenting rainfall triggered record water levels, flooding more than 116,000 houses and nearly 5,000 hectares of crops. In many areas, rooftops were the only visible parts of homes, while roads and railway lines were cut off, leaving communities stranded without electricity and supplies.

Hoi An, once a bustling trading port and one of Vietnam's top tourist destinations, turned into a waterlogged ghost town. As the floodwaters began to recede on Friday, residents started cleaning their mud-filled homes and shops. “I’ve witnessed floods many times, but this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said local resident Tran Van Tien, 60, while clearing debris from his doorstep.

Hotels and small businesses that rely heavily on tourism have suffered major losses. “Floodwater rose too quickly, causing huge damage to property. Our hotel has been closed since Monday,” said Nguyen Thi Thuy, a local hotel manager. Many tourists have cancelled their bookings, dealing another blow to the town’s fragile economy.

The government’s disaster agency reported that traffic and power remain disrupted in several areas, with some regions expecting more heavy rainfall through Saturday. Meteorologists warned that daily precipitation could exceed 500 millimetres, raising fears of further flooding.

As the skies remain clouded and rivers swollen, residents of central Vietnam are left counting their losses—hoping the rains will ease and life in the ancient towns can slowly return to normal.