Greenhouses and net houses for growing vegetables and flowers in D'ran commune were flattened, strewn with debris and waste after a flash flood in late November.

D'ran commune, formed from the former Lac Xuan commune and D'ran town, is a major vegetable and flower cultivation area in Lam Dong. Following prolonged heavy rain and floods, approximately 1,320 hectares of agricultural land and crops in the commune were submerged or affected by landslides. The floodwaters swept away greenhouse and net house systems and production materials, causing damage exceeding 130 billion VND. The heavy rains also devastated residential areas, collapsing 15 homes.

The vegetable and flower growing areas were torn apart, with plants and debris swept away by the floodwaters, accumulating in piles stuck against metal poles.

One greenhouse was crushed after the flood, leaving only its metal frame and electrical system exposed.

Before its merger into D'ran commune, Lac Xuan commune alone had over 3,000 hectares dedicated to vegetable cultivation, including more than 1,880 hectares of high-tech vegetable and flower farming, and 320 hectares of greenhouses and net houses.

A greenhouse cultivating chrysanthemums collapsed due to the floodwaters, with its structural poles, trusses, and electrical lighting system severely damaged.

Chrysanthemum blooms, still wrapped in netting, lay flattened on the ground, many plants withered and died from prolonged submersion in floodwaters.

Ms. Le Thi Quyen collected dead plants and debris inside her family's high-tech greenhouse, used for cultivating seedlings. In addition to the destroyed seedling racks, 500 coconut fiber trays could not be moved in time when the flood hit, causing approximately one billion VND in damages to her family.

A vegetable garden was left desolate after the flood, next to Nguyen Trong Huong's approximately one-hectare eggplant farm, situated by the Da Nhim River, which withered from being submerged in floodwaters.

Workers cleared damaged soil bags, scattered throughout a greenhouse by the flood.

Mr. Dinh Viet Dung, Chairman of D'ran commune People's Committee, stated that authorities are still assessing the damage to greenhouses, net houses, crops, and livestock. Currently, the commune has received approximately 7 billion VND in initial aid to help residents restore production.

Beyond crop damage, floodwaters brought in debris, scattered along the rows of net houses.

Lam Dong was among the provinces severely affected by the recent heavy rains and floods. The entire province recorded five deaths and one injury; 23 homes collapsed or were swept away, with 206 others damaged; over 4,570 hectares of crops, primarily vegetables and flowers, were destroyed; more than 18,600 livestock and poultry were swept away; and 33 major landslides occurred on key roads. The total estimated damage exceeds 1,055 billion VND.

Truong Ha - Le Nguyen