2020 is the year of historical floods in Vietnam. Its central region was repeatedly hit by torrential rains, flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy storms. Nearly 250 people were killed or missing, and thousands of homes submerged. Vietnam is among countries most vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena, which is often considered a symptom of climate change.
In October and November 2020, I was commissioned by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to document the aftermath of heavy storms and typhoons in four Vietnamese central provinces Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.
All photographed by Yen Duong for the IFRC.
Ruins of a house that was unroofed and completely destroyed in Trung Hoa village, Binh Son Commune, Hiep Duc district on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Nguyen Thi Duoc, 75, sits at the ruins of her house which was destroyed and unroofed in Thuan An village, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. "I was all alone and terrified," Mrs. Duoc said.
Pham Thi Le (L), 55, and her mother Pham Thi Lai, 86, at their home in Hoa Thuan village, Tinh Hoa Commune, Quang Ngai province, on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Their house unroofed and partially destroyed by Storm Molave, which made a landfall in Vietnam on October 28, 2020. "All I wish for right now is a little house that can shelter the three of us", Lai said.
Residents are seen queuing for aid packages in Long Mon Commune, Minh Long district, Quang Ngai province on Saturday, November 7, 2020.
A woman walks through floodwater in Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
Ruins of a house that was unroofed and completely destroyed in An Phu village, Binh Lam Commune, Hiep Duc district on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Mrs. Phung Thi Sao, 50, and her son, Phung Van Thang, 13, stand in what is left of their home in An Phu village, Binh Lam Commune, Hiep Duc district on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Pham Thi Giang Tien, 4, is seen with her mother queuing for Red Cross aid packages in Tra Nam Commune, Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam province, on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.
Nguyen Huu Luat, chief of the Red Cross office at Giao Linh district, Quang Tri province, hands over relief packages to residents at Thuy Khe village, Gio My Commune, on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
Residents at Thuy Khe village, Gio My Commune, are seen lining up for relief packages on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
Children walk through a collapsed bridge leading to Van Ry village, Huc Commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
A resident is seen carrying a relief package through a collapsed bridge leading to Van Ry village, Huc Commune, Huong Hoa district on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
A man and two boys are seen standing on a collapsed road leading to Huc Commune, Huong Hoa district on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
A family is seen standing over floodwater in Cau Nhi village, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.