HANOI, Nov 2, 2025 (AFP) - Record heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam this week have killed 35 people, disaster management officials said Sunday, with five more still missing in the deluge.

Heavy rain has pummelled Vietnam's coastal provinces since last weekend, with a record of up to 1.7 metres (5 feet 6 inches) falling over 24 hours spanning last Sunday and Monday.

The 35 fatalities took place in Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong and Quang Tri provinces, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) said in a report.

Hoi An's ancient town that is a UNESCO world heritage site has been inundated with waist-deep water, with residents navigating the city by wooden boats after a major local river overflowed at a 60-year high and rains continuing Sunday.

More than 16,500 houses have been flooded, the VDDMA says, with more than 40,000 poultry and livestock swept away and more than 5,300 hectares (13,000 acres) of cropland submerged.