The warmth of humanity in flood-stricken areas

In the western and northern parts of Nha Trang, successive torrents of water from upstream swept away rice fields that were nearing harvest. Heavy rain and rapidly rising water levels resulted in residential areas being flooded, leaving many households unable to react in time.

Severe damage

From November 16 to November 18, Khanh Hoa Province experienced heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, with widespread totals of 100–250mm and even higher levels in some places, such as Nhon Hai 316.6mm, Khanh Phu 334.6mm, and Suoi Hanh Reservoir 392mm. Water levels on rivers rose quickly, exceeding danger levels in many locations.

Two landslides on Khanh Son and Khanh Le passes have killed seven people, left two missing, and injured 19 others. Prolonged heavy rain caused flooding of more than 8,000ha of crop fields, including rice, vegetables, and seasonal and perennial plants; many aquaculture ponds and salt fields were washed away or buried. Several infrastructure works were seriously damaged, such as freshwater dams, spillways at Thai An and My Hoa, the Dong Nha spillway bridge, and many road sections on the Khanh Le and Khanh Son passes. Residential areas in Khanh Nhon, Khanh Phuoc, and Da Hang were heavily flooded and experienced landslides of talus slopes and retaining walls.

In Binh Cang, a low-lying area of Tay Nha Trang Ward, we met Thuy Duong, who had just returned home after being evacuated with the support of functional forces. She recounted that on the morning the flood came, her family had raised their belongings because they heard that Song Cai Reservoir would discharge water. However, all preparations were overwhelmed by the speed of events. “At around 2pm, the water was only just lapping at the road. But within just over an hour, the swift current rushed in and rose very quickly, submerging everything in the house,” Duong recalled with tears in her eyes.

In the vast floodwaters, four soldiers on patrol promptly arrived when they heard her calling from inside the house. They quickly carried an elderly person (over 70 years old) and two children, helping each person wade through the strong current to reach the rescue boat. She remembers that moment clearly: “When I saw the soldiers coming in, I burst into tears. That was the only ray of hope. My child was soaked for two hours, lips pale, crying ‘Mum, I’m cold’, and my heart just clenched.” By the afternoon of November 18, the water had gradually receded, but a layer of silt covered the entire house. She and her husband requested a day off work to clean up.

In Dien Khanh Commune, one of the areas that suffered deep flooding and long periods of isolation, border guards, militia forces, and specialised rescue teams continued to search tirelessly for missing victims around the Bau Duc spillway.

Sitting by the spillway, Nhu Quynh, the daughter of one victim, quietly stared downstream. When asked, she choked up: “I’ve really lost my father… Since yesterday afternoon, I kept hoping for a miracle, but it didn’t come for our family.” Quynh and her younger sibling sobbed in each other’s arms as neighbours tried to comfort them. The enormity of the loss, against the backdrop of floodwaters still surging under the dam, left everyone present with a heavy heart.

Determined efforts to support residents

Immediately after the disaster struck, military forces, in coordination with the police and local authorities, swiftly implemented rescue measures to assist residents in flooded and low-lying areas, moving them to safe locations. Forces urgently searched for missing people, while blocking and redirecting traffic at dangerous points. The health sector promptly carried out environmental disinfection, disease prevention after the floods, and ensured medical examination and treatment for people in isolated areas.

Arriving at the scene shortly after the serious landslide on Khanh Le Pass, Nghiêm Xuan Thanh, Secretary of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, requested that relevant units focus on reviewing and agreeing on reservoir operation procedures to ensure safety for downstream areas, urgently search for missing victims buried at Khanh Son Pass, and, in particular, ensure absolute safety for rescue forces in landslide-prone areas; as well as to strengthen the reinforcement of landslide points and quickly restore traffic on the Khanh Le and Khanh Son passes. At the same time, functional forces were tasked with stabilising prices, preventing unreasonable price increases, and ensuring essential goods, temporary shelter, and medical care for affected residents.

At Khanh Hoa General Hospital, doctors and nurses are doing their utmost to provide free care and treatment for victims injured in the landslide. Those with serious trauma injuries have undergone timely surgery, while other patients are being closely monitored and given intensive medical care to ensure stable health and safety.

Bui Ngoc Anh Vu, Commander of the Military Command of Bac Nha Trang Ward, said rescue operations during the flood on the afternoon of November 17 were extremely difficult. In some sections, the current was so strong that two rescue canoes capsized while attempting to reach deeply flooded areas. One police officer, while pulling a resident towards a safe area, was swept hundreds of metres downstream by the powerful current and only stopped when he became entangled in a clump of trees, allowing the rescue team to reach him in time.

At the headquarters of Dien Khanh Commune People’s Committee — which serves as an evacuation point — many residents, along with soldiers, police officers, and militia members, were clearing mud and gathering scattered branches. Everyone lent a hand, without distinction of whose house or yard it was, all striving to bring life back to normal as quickly as possible.

In the evacuation room, Nguyen Thi Hong Oanh (Phu Loc Dong 2 residential area) was rocking her three-month-old baby to sleep. She recounted that at about 1pm the previous afternoon, the water rose very quickly, trapping her and her two children in their room with only enough time to call for help. Dien Khanh Commune forces arrived in time and used a raft to bring the children to safety. “Here, the commune has provided us with everything from milk and food to essential items. Now we are just waiting for the water to recede so we can go home and clean up,” Oanh said, her eyes full of gratitude.

In other areas, local authorities continue to assess damage, support residents in moving belongings, deal with landslide points, and proactively arrange temporary living conditions for households in difficulty. Mass organisations and youth unions are also helping to clear mud, collect rubbish, and support older people and those living alone in overcoming the aftermath.

The flood has passed. Stories of the selfless dedication of rescue forces, the solidarity of the community and the spirit of mutual support and compassion have further illuminated the warmth of humanity in the flood season.

*** On the afternoon of November 18, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, together with a government delegation and leaders of Khanh Hoa Province, travelled directly to the site to direct recovery efforts after the landslide on Khanh Le Pass in Nam Khanh Vinh Commune, Khanh Hoa Province. The deputy PM requested that Khanh Hoa Province concentrate manpower and equipment to reopen the route on Khanh Le Pass as quickly as possible. During construction and landslide remediation, absolute safety must be ensured for all participating forces.

That evening, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung and the working delegation visited Khanh Hoa General Hospital to meet with victims and held a meeting with Khanh Hoa Province on landslide recovery work at Khanh Le Pass.

At the working session with the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, the deputy PM requested the province to continue promoting a proactive spirit and readiness to respond to increasingly complex natural disasters; and to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property. Local authorities at all levels must be prepared with evacuation plans for residents in high-risk areas for landslides and flooding. Relevant departments and localities must proactively develop scientific reservoir and hydropower operation plans to ensure the safety of people, property, and downstream works. On behalf of the government, the deputy PM allocated 50 billion VND from the central budget’s 2025 contingency fund to Khanh Hoa Province in remedying the damage caused by the floods.

Directing recovery and flood response efforts, Nghiem Xuan Thanh, Secretary of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, requested relevant units to review and unify reservoir operation procedures to ensure downstream safety, urgently search for missing victims, swiftly restore traffic on the Khanh Le and Khanh Son passes, and called on the Provincial People’s Committee to study appropriate mechanisms and policies to support people in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and restoring production soon.

Forecasts indicate that from November 18 to November 20, heavy rain will continue in Gia Lai, with a high risk of flooding and landslides. The vice chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee has requested agencies and localities not to be subjective or negligent in flood prevention, response, and mitigation. In flooded areas, authorities must quickly evacuate people and property to safe locations, in line with the “four on-the-spot” principle.