Extreme, rare numbers
According to the Department of Hydrometeorology (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the 2025 storm season recorded extremely rare figures in terms of intensity, frequency and scope of impact. In the first 9 months of the year alone, the East Sea has seen 15 storms and tropical depressions, much higher than the average of many years. Of which, 7 storms (storm No. 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) directly and indirectly affected our country, creating a series of consecutive natural disasters, with almost no enough time off to overcome the consequences.
Super typhoon No. 9 (super typhoon Ragasa) appeared in the East Sea in the last days of September with the intensity assessed by international storm forecasting centers as stronger than super typhoon Yagi in 2024. For the first time in the forecast history, Vietnam has determined that the storm level will reach level 17, gusting above level 17, the final level of the Beaufort storm wind scale. Super Typhoon Ragasa became the strongest super typhoon ever recorded in the East Sea. Although weakening before reaching shore, it shows the real risk of super typhoons in the context of climate change.
During the first months of the year, our country experienced 20 types of natural disasters in regions across the country, including floods, widespread flooding, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, hot weather, saltwater intrusion, etc.
Since the beginning of the year until October 6, natural disasters across the country have left 221 people dead or missing; 362 people injured; 219,043 houses damaged or had their roofs blown off with a total damage caused by natural disasters of VND 33,549 billion," said Mr. Nguyen Van Tien - Deputy Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).
There are still 2-3 storms and tropical depressions affecting the mainland directly
Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Hydrometeorology said that in the last months of 2025, the ENSO phenomenon is likely to remain neutral and leaning towards the cold phase, but has not yet reached a La Nina cycle. Therefore, from now until the end of the year, there will be about 4-5 storms and tropical depressions active in the East Sea and about 2-3 storms that are likely to affect our country - a level higher than the average of many years.
Heavy rains are likely to occur in the Central region. During this period, the peak of the storm and heavy rain season will be concentrated in the area from Ha Tinh to Hue and the eastern areas of the provinces from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa in October to the first half of December 2025.
On rivers from Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong, flood peaks are generally at level BD2-BD3, in some places above level 3. Major floods are likely to be concentrated in October and November 2025 and the possibility of late floods at the end of the year coinciding with the water storage period of inter-reservoir operation processes for rivers in the Central region. The risk of flooding in urban areas and major cities continues to occur due to the impact of local heavy rain. There is a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous provinces.
"Dismantries tend to be more extreme than the average of many years with a clear trend of shifting the natural disaster season, extreme rain not only in the rainy season but also in the dry season, severe intensity, wide range of impact. The frequency of heavy rain and extreme rain has increased significantly and will continue to increase," said Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong.
Mr. Hoang Duc Cuong added that from around October 2025, cold air tends to increase in intensity and frequency, and is likely to be active in November-December 2025, with severe cold in the North likely to appear from the second half of December.
The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that the total area of crops affected by natural disasters was 96,452 hectares, of which rice was affected by 40,405 hectares. In the North Central and North, 1.1 million hectares of summer-autumn crops were planted, and storms affected about 40,000 hectares.
However, up to now, the North Central region has harvested 87%, the North has harvested 47% and is expected to be completed in October. Therefore, the production of rice in the summer-autumn crop is not affected too much by natural disasters," said Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection.
Meanwhile, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) said that as of September 2025, the output of live pigs exported to the cages was 4,038.3 thousand tons, the output of live poultry exported to the cages was 1,926.3 thousand tons, an increase of 5.6%. "This year, meat production for peak year-end holidays such as New Year's Day and Lunar New Year is not a concern," Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien affirmed.
