Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

By Bui Toan, Nguyet Nhi, Tran Hoa   November 19, 2025 | 06:45 pm PT
Surging floodwaters have severely affected tens of thousands of homes in Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces in central Vietnam, forcing residents onto their rooftops where they await rescue teams and urgently need food and water supplies.
Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

Heavy rain overnight and through Wednesday morning caused the Ba River to rise sharply, flooding approximately 8,500 houses in eastern Dak Lak (formerly part of Phu Yen Province). Thousands of homes, including single-story and level-four structures, are now completely submerged, with only their rooftops visible.

As floodwaters surged, thousands of residents unable to evacuate in time were forced to climb onto their roofs. Military forces, militia, and police are now deployed, reaching dangerous areas to rescue the stranded population.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

In Tuy Hoa Ward, rescue teams had to break a window to access a flooded home where the water level had already risen to the second floor, reaching the height of the air-conditioning units as they conduct dangerous house-to-house evacuations.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

Desperate to be spotted by rescue teams, some residents stand precariously on the narrow overhangs above their windows, exposed to the rain, in areas where water has completely submerged the ground level.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

Ngoc Lan's extended family of 30 people in Gia Lai, including seven small children and elderly members, is completely cut off, as their house has been submerged up to its rooftop. With no food or drinking water, they have issued an urgent plea for rescue.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

In Gia Lai's Quy Nhon Ward, rescue workers were seen dismantling roofs on Wednesday morning to create openings and bring residents out from the high floodwaters and safely evacuate them from their submerged homes.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

After being evacuated by rescue teams from isolated, flooded areas, children are carried through the remaining deep waters to be reunited with families and moved to designated safe locations.

The Gia Lai People’s Committee reports that heavy rains have left the wards of Quy Nhon Bac, Quy Nhon Dong, and the communes of Tuy Phuoc, Tuy Phuoc Dong, and Tuy Phuoc Bac, among others, deeply flooded. The province is grappling with more than 8,300 affected households, isolating nearly 36,000 people, and has sustained damage to several key roads.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

With many streets rendered impassable to standard vehicles, rescue teams utilize specialized vehicles and boats to transport Quy Nhon residents out of the flood zones and into safe shelters.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

Relief forces bring essential food supplies to severely flooded areas in Quy Nhon Dong Ward on Wednesday evening, ensuring that cut-off residents receive much-needed sustenance.

Trapped by floods, thousands forced onto rooftops in central Vietnam

Relief forces deliver essential food and drinking water supplies to severely flooded neighborhoods in Quy Nhon Dong Ward on Wednesday evening.

Floods triggered by torrential rains and landslides from Nov. 16 have battered the central region, leaving at least 14 people dead or missing, according to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

 
 
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