HCMC – Heavy rains triggered by Storm Matmo have caused extensive flooding across northern Vietnam, submerging thousands of hectares of crops and homes, and killing or washing away livestock.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, nearly 22,600 hectares of rice and crops had been inundated, about 17,000 houses had been flooded, including about 5,100 in Thai Nguyen, 7,300 in Cao Bang, and 3,000 in Lang Son. Around 1,600 homes were isolated, mostly in Lang Son and Thai Nguyen. and hundreds of thousands of animals had been lost as of October 8. At least 13 people were reported dead or missing, and seven were injured, reported the Vietnam news Agency.
Bac Ninh: Flooding kills three and forces mass evacuations
Flooding in Bac Ninh Province killed three people and forced thousands to evacuate. More than 4,500 hectares of rice and crops and 500 hectares of fruit trees were submerged.
A 20-meter section of a dike in Tien Luc Commune collapsed early on October 8 but was quickly reinforced. Over 200 soldiers and local police helped evacuate residents and protect property in 10 flooded villages.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh visited Bac Ninh on October 8 and urged local authorities to prioritize evacuations in high-risk areas and strengthen flood prevention efforts.
Thai Nguyen: Floods disrupt power supply and threaten dikes
Thai Nguyen was among the hardest-hit provinces, with four deaths, two missing persons, and two injuries reported. More than 200,000 homes were flooded, and 7,100 hectares of farmland were damaged. Over 136,000 poultry were killed or swept away.
Flooding disrupted power supplies after more than 300 substations were submerged, cutting electricity to 200,000 customers. Around 50 power poles were damaged, and the Thai Nguyen Power Company headquarters was flooded.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ordered urgent reinforcement of the Ha Chau dike as the Cau River rose to critical levels. Nearly 1,000 soldiers and officers were deployed to strengthen weak sections.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the province on October 8, calling for continued evacuations and faster delivery of food and essential supplies to isolated communities.
Lang Son: Dam breach displaces 800 families as water rises to record levels
Lang Son Province experienced what local authorities called the largest flood ever recorded on the Bac Khe River, which caused the Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam in Tan Tien Commune to rupture. The dam, with a storage capacity of 4.7 million cubic meters and output of 2.4 MW, broke after receiving 180–280 millimeters of rain over two days.
Authorities evacuated more than 800 households to safe areas before the breach occurred. Downstream, That Khe Commune and nearby areas such as Yen Binh, Van Nham, Huu Lung, Tuan Son, and Cai Kinh were submerged by two to three meters of water, leaving neighborhoods cut off and disrupting daily life.
By the night of October 8, water levels at the Huu Lung hydrological station on the Trung River reached 24.15 meters, exceeding the 1986 record by 1.61 meters. Nearly 2,200 homes were flooded and 2,600 isolated, while 38,200 customers lost power and telecommunications networks were disrupted.
Natural disaster damages in Vietnam so far this year
According to Nguyen Van Tien, deputy director of the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention, Vietnam has experienced 20 types of natural disasters since early 2025, causing estimated economic losses of VND33.5 trillion.
These disasters include 11 storms, four tropical depressions, large-scale floods in northern and north-central regions, and other events such as strong winds, hail, drought, and landslides.
As of September 6, disasters had caused 221 deaths or missing persons, 362 injuries, and damaged over 219,000 homes and 542,000 hectares of crops.
Storm Bualoi alone accounted for 57 deaths, 10 missing persons, and VND18.8 trillion in damages.
Tien warned that from now until the end of 2025, two to four additional storms or tropical depressions are expected to form in the East Sea, with two or three likely to affect central Vietnam, particularly from Ha Tinh to Lam Dong provinces.
