Natural disasters across Việt Nam have claimed 238 lives or left people missing, injured 367 others, and damaged or unroofed nearly 258,000 houses since the beginning of the year, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp. He revealed the figures during a government meeting on Thursday that focused on urgent recovery efforts following Typhoon Matmo one of the most destructive storms to hit the country in recent years.
More than 555,000 hectares of rice fields, crops, and plantations have been inundated since January, bringing total estimated damages to VNĐ33.549 trillion (approximately US$1.4 billion). Typhoon Matmo and its aftermath alone left 15 people dead or missing and seven injured as of Thursday morning.
The storm’s heavy rains and floods submerged about 221,000 houses and damaged nearly 17,000 more, while 23,280 hectares of rice and crops were destroyed. Transportation networks also suffered severe disruptions, with 66 national highway sections blocked by landslides or flooding, and numerous provincial and rural roads still underwater.
The electricity network took a major hit, leaving around 546,000 customers in Thái Nguyên, Bắc Giang, Cao Bằng, and Lạng Sơn without power. As of Thursday, authorities had restored power to 329,000 households, while 217,000 remained disconnected.
To aid relief efforts, the Ministry of National Defence deployed more than 11,000 officers and soldiers, along with 256 vehicles and four flights carrying 8.7 tonnes of relief supplies to the hardest-hit areas.
Deputy Minister Hiệp described Typhoon Matmo as “one of the most severe natural disasters in recent years,” noting that it triggered “record-level floods, flash floods, and landslides,” causing extensive losses to lives, property, and key infrastructure, including dike systems and reservoirs.
At the meeting, Trần Cẩm Tú, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, called on local authorities to conduct comprehensive assessments of damage and ensure prompt implementation of support measures. He stressed the urgent restoration of medical facilities and schools, enabling communities to regain access to healthcare and education.
Tú also urged continued mobilisation of public and private contributions to assist victims, highlighting the need for direct financial aid to help residents rebuild their lives.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính expressed deep concern over the increasing severity of natural disasters, noting that damage in 2025 has already reached an estimated 2 per cent of GDP, compared to 0.4 per cent in 2024.
“With prolonged flooding and more storms likely, Việt Nam must strengthen disaster forecasting, improve coordination with neighbouring countries, and ensure timely, targeted responses,” the Prime Minister said.
He directed ministries, local authorities, and the armed forces to mobilise all available resources to reach isolated communities, deliver food and medicine, reinforce dikes, and provide temporary shelters so that “no one is left hungry, cold, or homeless.”