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Record torrential rain and catastrophic flooding in central Vietnam this week have claimed 35 lives, with five individuals still missing.
Coastal provinces were hit by historic downpours, including a 24-hour period that saw up to 1.7 metres (5.6 feet) of rain.
The fatalities were reported across Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Quang Tri provinces.
The deluge has submerged the ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where residents are using boats to navigate waist-deep water.
Locals expressed shock at the water levels, which were far higher than anticipated, causing extensive damage to property.
The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority reports that over 16,500 houses are currently flooded, and more than 40,000 livestock and 5,300 hectares of cropland have been swept away.
Total economic losses from natural disasters this year, mostly storms and floods, are estimated at over $610 million.
The country, typically affected by 10 tropical cyclones annually, has already experienced 12 in 2025, with scientists pointing to human-driven climate change for increasing the destructiveness of such extreme weather events.
