Northern Vietnam Floods Kill 3, Inundate 16,000 Homes

Heavy rain and flooding have killed three people, inundated more than 16,000 homes and damaged large areas of farmland across northern and north-central Vietnam, with authorities warning that flooding and landslide risks remain in several areas.

The three deaths were reported in Da Bac Commune in Phu Tho Province, where a landslide buried members of the same family. The country’s disaster authorities said the wider flooding had affected communities in Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.

The flooding followed several days of heavy rainfall, with rivers in some locations rising above the highest warning threshold.

More Than 16,000 Homes Flooded

Vietnam’s disaster authorities reported that 16,310 homes had been inundated by the evening of September 17.

Thanh Hoa recorded the largest number, with more than 8,400 homes affected, followed by Ninh Binh with nearly 4,800 and Hanoi with more than 2,200. Four houses had collapsed and another 29 were damaged.

The flooding has also affected public infrastructure and transportation.

Several roads have been blocked or disrupted, while authorities have been responding to areas where rising water has isolated households.

Agriculture Faces Major Damage

The flooding has caused extensive agricultural losses.

According to Vietnam’s disaster management authorities, 22,499 hectares of rice, crops and vegetables had been submerged or damaged. Another 2,172 hectares of other crops and more than 1,175 hectares of aquaculture areas were affected.

The authorities also reported damage to irrigation infrastructure, with almost 2,000 metres of canals affected.

At least 15 schools were flooded.

The impact on agriculture could create additional difficulties for communities that depend on farming, particularly where crops were damaged close to harvest.

Hanoi Hit by Widespread Flooding

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, has also experienced widespread flooding.

Heavy rain from Wednesday night into Thursday morning produced rainfall totals exceeding 150 millimetres in several parts of the city. Some areas recorded more than 400 millimetres of accumulated rainfall since Monday, while isolated locations received more than 500 millimetres, according to local authorities.

Floodwater reached almost one metre in some locations.

Traffic was disrupted across parts of the capital, while some schools closed, delayed classes or moved lessons online.

Authorities also deployed soldiers and other personnel to assist with flood-response operations in vulnerable areas.

Rivers Remain at High Levels

The flooding has been compounded by elevated river levels.

The Bui and Tich rivers around Hanoi reached or exceeded level-three flood alerts, the highest warning level in the local system.

On the Bui River, water reached 7.51 metres at Yen Duyet Station on September 17, which was 0.51 metres above the level-three alert threshold. More than 5,600 people were reported to be affected in Tran Phu Commune.

In Ninh Binh, the Hoang Long River also exceeded its highest warning level before beginning to recede slowly.

Authorities have continued monitoring river levels because high water can remain dangerous even after rainfall begins to decrease.

Heavy Rain Continues in Several Areas

Vietnam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that rain would continue across parts of northern Vietnam.

Its September 18 forecast called for scattered showers and thunderstorms across the north, with locally heavy rain in some areas. Southern parts of Lao Cai, Son La and Phu Tho were among the areas expected to receive moderate to heavy rain.

Authorities have consequently maintained warnings about flash floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous and saturated areas.

The risk is heightened because prolonged rainfall can leave soil unable to absorb additional water, increasing the possibility of sudden flooding and slope failures.

Emergency Teams Respond

Local authorities have been mobilising personnel and equipment to protect communities and infrastructure.

Response operations include reinforcing dykes, monitoring rivers, helping residents in flooded areas and preparing to evacuate people from locations considered dangerous.

In Hanoi, soldiers were involved in efforts to reinforce flood defences along vulnerable riverside communities.

Authorities have also warned people against travelling through deep or fast-moving floodwater and have restricted movement across some dangerous crossings.

Landslides Add to the Risk

The three reported deaths highlight the additional danger faced by communities in mountainous areas.

The victims were killed when a landslide struck in Da Bac Commune, Phu Tho Province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s disaster authorities.

Flooding and landslides often occur together during prolonged periods of intense rainfall, particularly in mountainous terrain.

Vietnamese authorities had already warned residents in several northern and north-central localities about elevated flash-flood and landslide risks as the heavy rain continued.

Transportation Has Also Been Disrupted

Flooding has affected roads across several provinces.

Vietnam’s disaster authorities reported multiple locations where roads were flooded or affected by landslides. The disruption has made movement more difficult for residents and emergency teams while also affecting the transportation of agricultural goods.

Earlier reports from the government said authorities had been instructed to monitor low-water crossings, spillway bridges and other locations where rapidly rising water could pose a danger to people and vehicles.

The situation has required local governments to balance emergency response with the need to keep critical routes open.

Why the Flooding Matters

The latest flooding is affecting homes, transportation, schools and agriculture across a broad part of northern and north-central Vietnam.

The damage to nearly 25,000 hectares of crops and aquaculture is particularly significant for rural communities. The disruption to roads and isolated households also complicates emergency response and recovery.

At the same time, continued rainfall means the situation remains capable of changing quickly.

Areas that have already experienced flooding may face additional problems if rivers remain high or more heavy rain falls.

Authorities Continue Monitoring the Situation

Vietnam’s disaster agencies continue to monitor rainfall, river levels and the risk of further flooding and landslides.

Forecasts for September 18 indicate that rain will continue in parts of northern Vietnam, although conditions vary between regions.

For residents in affected areas, the immediate priorities remain safety, evacuation where necessary and protection of homes and essential infrastructure.

The three deaths and extensive property and agricultural damage show the scale of the current emergency, while the continuing rainfall means authorities have not yet reached the end of the response phase.