Torrential rains and severe flooding have left at least 35 people dead and five missing in central Vietnam, officials said on Sunday, as the region grapples with one of its worst natural disasters in decades.

According to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA), the fatalities were reported across Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Quang Tri provinces, where relentless rainfall since last weekend has submerged entire towns and villages.

Meteorologists said up to 1.7 meters (5 feet 6 inches) of rain fell within just 24 hours between Sunday and Monday — a new record for the region.

The ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been heavily inundated, with floodwaters reaching waist level. Residents have been forced to use wooden boats to move through the city after the nearby Thu Bon River overflowed, reaching its highest level in more than 60 years.

The VDDMA reported that more than 16,500 houses remain flooded, while over 40,000 poultry and livestock have been swept away. Additionally, 5,300 hectares (13,000 acres) of farmland have been submerged, threatening food supplies and livelihoods.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said over 100,000 homes had been affected and more than 150 landslides recorded across central provinces.

Experts warn that the intensity of this year’s floods reflects the growing impact of human-induced climate change, which is amplifying extreme weather patterns across Southeast Asia. Vietnam, one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, lies in a highly active tropical cyclone region and regularly faces heavy rains and typhoons between June and September.

Typically, Vietnam is struck by around 10 tropical storms or typhoons each year. However, officials say the country has already experienced 12 major systems in 2025, underscoring an alarming uptick in storm activity.

In the first nine months of this year alone, natural disasters — including storms, floods, and landslides — have killed or left missing 187 people, according to government data. The total economic losses are estimated at more than $610 million.

Authorities have deployed rescue teams, distributed emergency relief supplies, and warned residents in low-lying areas to prepare for further flooding as heavy rains continue to lash the region.

Environmental experts have urged the government to invest more in flood-control infrastructure and early warning systems to protect vulnerable communities as climate risks intensify. (ILKHA)