Record Rainfall Mobilizes Defense Forces in Vietnam's Central Highlands

A period of torrential rain lashed Vietnam's South Central Coast between November 16 and November 22, 2025, establishing new benchmarks for precipitation intensity in the region. Meteorological assessments confirmed that several monitoring stations registered rainfall totals surpassing established historical thresholds. For example, the Son Hoa station in Dak Lak province documented an accumulation of 601.2 millimeters, while Quy Nhon in Gia Lai province recorded 380.6 millimeters over the same span.

Localized areas experienced extreme accumulation, with Son Thanh Tay recording between 1,000 and 1,200 millimeters within a condensed timeframe of just a few days, leading the World Meteorological Organization to formally categorize the deluge as extremely rare. The Central Highlands region, a vital agricultural area, is grappling with the aftermath of this climatic anomaly. The event is particularly noteworthy due to its atypical timing, deviating from typical flood patterns that generally conclude before the November 15 mark in the preceding three decades.

Furthermore, the simultaneous breaching of established river level records across three to five primary river basins, including the significant Ba River system, represents an occurrence not witnessed in more than five decades of continuous hydrological observation. The Ba River Basin, which flows through provinces like Gia Lai and Phu Yen, is a critical water source, and its record levels indicate a widespread hydrological crisis affecting infrastructure and communities along its path. The sheer volume of water overwhelmed existing drainage and flood control mechanisms.

As of the morning of November 23, 2025, initial damage assessments compiled preliminary figures indicating a tragic toll of 102 fatalities, with individuals still unaccounted for, alongside material losses quantified at approximately 9.035 trillion Vietnamese Dong. The disaster's genesis is attributed to a confluence of potent meteorological drivers: the interaction of powerful surges from the northeast monsoon with intrusions of colder air masses, which generated intense orographic lifting as the air mass encountered the steep slopes of the Truong Son mountain range.

In response to the escalating crisis, a massive coordinated rescue and recovery effort is currently in progress, involving the deployment of nearly 45,000 personnel under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense. This significant mobilization includes the utilization of approximately 2,200 vehicles dedicated to logistical support, search, and evacuation operations across the affected provinces. The deployment of military assets is crucial for reaching isolated communities and transporting essential supplies, with the Ministry of Defense prioritizing life-saving measures in the hardest-hit zones of the South Central Coast.