Deadly Floods Claim 41 Lives in Vietnam, Rescue Efforts Ongoing

Weeks of relentless rainfall have killed at least 41 people in Vietnam and left nine others missing, as rescue teams continue evacuating residents from tens of thousands of flooded homes. The flooding and landslides mark one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country's central and southern regions in recent months.

The rains started in late October and haven't stopped, turning popular tourist destinations and historic sites into underwater zones. Vietnam's Ministry of Environment confirmed the death toll has been climbing since last weekend, with search operations still underway for the missing.

About 62,000 people have been evacuated since Sunday from the hardest-hit areas. Major roads are blocked by landslides, and around one million people are without electricity. In the coastal city of Nha Trang, entire neighborhoods are completely submerged.

Vietnam regularly faces severe weather during monsoon season, but this prolonged rainfall is unusual for this time of year. The country's geography makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding - its long coastline and river deltas can quickly turn deadly when storms hit.

The economic impact is already significant. Tourism, a major revenue source for Vietnam, takes a direct hit when popular coastal destinations like Nha Trang become inaccessible. The power outages affecting one million people will likely disrupt manufacturing and business operations across the affected regions.

Climate experts point to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns in Southeast Asia. Vietnam has been investing in flood defenses and early warning systems, but extreme rainfall events like this one test the limits of any infrastructure.

Rescue operations are ongoing, but weather conditions continue to hamper efforts. The government has mobilized military units to assist with evacuations and provide emergency supplies to affected communities.