World's second-heaviest 24-hour rainfall recorded in Hue as floods devastate central Vietnam
By
Gia Chinh October 29, 2025 | 12:01 am PT
Rainfall at Bach Ma peak in Hue has reached a staggering 1,739 millimeters in 24 hours, the highest ever recorded in Vietnam and the second-largest daily total in the world, behind only a 1966 record in the Indian Ocean.
Bach Ma peak recorded the historic rainfall from 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 27. According to data from the World Meteorological Organization, this 24-hour rainfall was surpassed only by 1,825 mm measured at a French weather station in the Indian Ocean in January 1966.
According to Vietnam's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the extreme weather that lashed central Vietnam from Oct. 22 to 28 was triggered by a rare convergence of natural factors: a strengthening cold front, remnants of Storm Fengshen, a tropical convergence zone shifting northward, and intense easterly winds clashing with mountainous terrain.
Rainfall across the region has been exceptional. From Oct. 22 to early Oct. 29, totals reached 450–900 mm in Hue, 300–600 mm in Da Nang and 200–450 mm across Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Quang Ngai.
The heaviest downpours fell between Oct. 25 and 27, when Bach Ma alone recorded 3,393 mm of rain, followed by 1,457 mm in Tra Thanh (Quang Ngai) and 1,199 mm in Phuoc Thanh (Da Nang).
The relentless rain pushed river levels to dangerous highs. The Bo River at Phu Oc surpassed its 2020 historic flood peak, while the Huong River in Hue rose close to its 1999 level. Dozens of communes in Hue and Da Nang have been submerged under 1–2 meters of floodwater, with some areas reaching 4 meters. At least 10 people have died and five are missing.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep praised Hue authorities and residents for their proactive response and transparent communication, which helped limit casualties despite record rainfall.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha described the floods as "historic," commending reservoir coordination that reduced flood peaks by 0.2–0.3 meters compared to the worst-case scenario.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting had earlier predicted two phases of heavy rain: first from Oct. 22–24 due to storm remnants and cold air, then from Oct. 25–27 under continued cold air and easterly winds.
In both Hue and Da Nang, total rainfall exceeded 900 mm from Oct. 22 to 27, marking one of the most extreme weather events in Vietnam’s history.