In a devastating incident in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, four South Korean tourists lost their lives on Tuesday when their car was swept away by rising floodwaters following days of relentless rain. The tragic accident occurred around midday in Dalat, a picturesque city renowned among holidaymakers, as the tourists’ jeep attempted to cross a swollen stream.
The VN Express news site reported that the water level had “suddenly risen high” after three consecutive days of heavy rainfall in the mountainous Lam Dong province, home to Dalat. The bodies of the tourists were discovered several kilometres downstream from the accident site, highlighting the swift and powerful force of the floodwaters.
The Vietnamese driver of the jeep was also swept away but miraculously found alive, according to VNExpress. The flooding of the river is believed to be a consequence of substantial rainfall upstream.
The ill-fated tourists were on a day tour to explore the natural beauty of Dalat, a popular destination known for its scenic landscapes.
Parts of central Vietnam have been grappling with intense rainfall since mid-October, a period designated as the rainy season in the Southeast Asian nation. The region has witnessed a series of natural disasters, including floods and landslides, claiming approximately 100 lives this year, as per official figures.
On Monday, rescue workers concluded their search for 13 fishermen who went missing when their vessel sank in stormy weather in the South China Sea in mid-October. Only two bodies have been recovered, underscoring the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions.
Scientists emphasise that these extreme weather events are increasingly intense and frequent globally, attributing the trend to climate change.
