Vietnam’s National Assembly honors flood victims with moment of silence

In recent days, record-breaking storms and floods have caused catastrophic damage in provinces such as Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong.

Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Do Van Chien stated that, despite the full efforts of the Party, government agencies, local authorities, and armed forces in disaster response and relief, the intensity of the storms and floods - marked by torrential rain, fierce winds, and rapid downstream water flow - has caused significant loss and destruction.

According to official data released this morning, the disasters have claimed 91 lives, left 11 missing, and damaged tens of thousands of homes. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed, and millions of livestock swept away.

“These losses are profound, leaving immense pain and suffering for the people and localities affected,” said Vice Chairman Chien.

During the session, leaders from the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and National Assembly members extended their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed solidarity with those enduring hardship in disaster-struck areas.

Vice Chairman Chien emphasized that while storms and disasters are temporary, the spirit of unity, compassion, and the Vietnamese tradition of “a good leaf covers the torn leaf” will always endure.

The National Assembly extended its heartfelt gratitude and praise to the military, police, and local forces who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to rescue and assist people in need.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly called on all deputies, officials, civil servants, and staff of parliamentary agencies to donate at least one day’s salary to support recovery efforts in disaster-hit communities.

The Office of the National Assembly will promptly coordinate the collection and distribution of these funds to the affected areas.

In recent days, historic floods - layer upon layer of storms and flooding - have caused devastating damage across the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and several other localities.

As of this morning’s statistics, the floods have left 102 people dead or missing, damaged 1,154 houses, and at peak times submerged up to 186,000 homes. More than 80,000 hectares of rice fields and crops have been destroyed, while over 3.2 million livestock and poultry animals have perished or been swept away. Landslides occurred at 24 locations along national highways, causing blockages. Railway services through Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa have been suspended. Many infrastructure facilities, including those for transportation, irrigation, education, and healthcare, have suffered significant damage.

Initial estimates place the economic losses at approximately 13,078 billion VND (around 538 million USD), including 650 billion VND in Quang Ngai, 1,000 billion VND in Gia Lai, 5,330 billion VND in Dak Lak, 5,000 billion VND in Khanh Hoa, and 1,098 billion VND in Lam Dong.