Thai King Leaves Vietnam as Heavy Rain, Floods and Landslides Kill Three
Thai King Leaves Vietnam as Heavy Rain, Floods and Landslides Kill Three
HANOI, 18 September 2026 — Heavy rain, flooding and landslides have killed three people and inundated more than 16,000 homes across northern and central Vietnam, as authorities warn of continued risks from flash floods and landslides.
As of 5:30 p.m. on September 17, three people had died in a landslide in Da Bac Commune, Phu Tho Province, according to Vietnam’s disaster management authorities.
The severe weather has affected thousands of households across several provinces. A total of 16,310 homes were inundated, including 8,419 in Thanh Hoa, 4,787 in Ninh Binh, 2,204 in Hanoi, 749 in Nghe An and 151 in Phu Tho.
Four houses collapsed in Thanh Hoa Province, while another 29 homes were damaged.
Agriculture has also suffered extensive damage, with approximately 22,499 hectares of rice, crops and vegetables flooded or damaged, along with 2,172 hectares of other crops and more than 1,175 hectares of aquaculture areas.
Flooding damaged or eroded nearly 2,000 metres of irrigation canals and inundated 15 schools.
Roads and Railway Disrupted
Heavy rain and landslides have caused significant transport disruption, with 11 landslide locations blocking national and provincial roads. These included four sites along National Highway 15C and three along National Highway 217.
Another 30 locations were inundated, causing traffic disruption.
Floodwater also reached approximately one metre deep along a section of the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City railway between Bim Son and Do Len, forcing railway operators to transfer passengers by road around the affected section.
Vietnamese authorities also reported problems along the dyke system, including erosion on the left bank of the Day River dyke in Ninh Binh and water overtopping approximately 1.4 kilometres of dykes and embankments in Hanoi’s Xuan Mai and Kieu Phu communes.
Local authorities deployed personnel and equipment to respond to the incidents.
Authorities Warn of Further Flood and Landslide Risks
The National Steering Committee for Civil Defense has instructed ministries and affected localities to closely monitor weather conditions and prepare for further heavy rain, flooding, flash floods and landslides.
Particular attention is being given to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Phu Tho, where authorities have been told to monitor river levels, strengthen warnings and evacuate residents from high-risk areas when necessary.
Officials have also been ordered to maintain 24-hour emergency duty to ensure rapid information sharing and disaster-response coordination.
Vietnam’s meteorological authorities have meanwhile urged local governments to identify vulnerable areas and locations where waterways could become obstructed, warning that rapidly rising water could pose further risks to communities.
The latest damage follows days of intense rainfall across northern and central Vietnam. Earlier flooding in Nghe An saw water levels reach as high as 1.7 metres at some road crossings, cutting off several communities.
