Central Vietnam is battling a severe new wave of floods and landslides that has killed at least eight people, impacted the vital coffee harvest, and submerged the UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An for a second time in weeks.
Eight people are confirmed dead, with seven others still missing across the affected central region.
Six of the fatalities occurred when a bus traveling from Da Lat to Nha Trang was struck by a landslide on Sunday night. Three missing individuals are believed buried under a separate landslide in Da Nang.
Hoi An, a historic city famed for its ancient wooden houses and cafes, has seen its historical district flooded by rising river levels.
Just two weeks after recovering from previous floods, residents and tourists are once again using boats to navigate the streets. They are passing through flooded cafes and ancient wooden houses, some over 100 years old.
The heavy rains have also inundated low-lying coffee farms in Dak Lak province.
A local coffee trader reported extensive crop submergence, delaying a harvest where only 10-15% of beans have been collected. Farmers urgently need sunlight for drying, which has been scarce this week.
Many central areas of Vietnam have recorded over 1,100 millimeters of accumulated rainfall. This leaves the region, a significant tourist and coffee-producing hub, vulnerable to repeated severe damage from storms and flash floods.
State media images showed dozens of homes submerged to their rooftops, with residents stranded and calling for assistance. Hundreds of families were evacuated overnight.
In Gia Lai province, schools serving more than 26,000 students have been closed due to critical flood conditions.
The national weather forecast office has warned of continued heavy rain, flooding, and landslides through Wednesday. The situation is expected to be prolonged and could cause further severe damage.