The prime minister has approved VND 50 billion (USD 1.91 million) from the central government's 2026 budget contingency fund to help Lai Chau Province recover from severe flood damage.
Residents in Muong Than, Lai Chau Province, are left stunned after the flash flood swept through (Photo: Hai Long).
Under Decision No. 1316, the emergency funding will support recovery efforts after torrential rain and flash floods devastated parts of the northern mountain province.
The government instructed the Lai Chau Province People's Committee to combine the central allocation with local budget resources and other lawful funding sources to carry out urgent disaster recovery measures.
Provincial authorities were also directed to ensure the additional funding is managed transparently, used for its intended purposes, allocated to eligible beneficiaries and administered in accordance with state budget regulations and other relevant laws.
Earlier, Lai Chau Province had requested VND 500 billion (USD 19.10 million) in government assistance, including VND 300 billion (USD 11.46 million) in emergency funding from the central government's 2026 contingency budget, to deal with the aftermath of flash floods.
According to provincial authorities, the requested funding would support households whose homes were damaged, develop resettlement areas, restore livelihoods and finance emergency repairs to transport infrastructure, irrigation systems, drinking water supplies, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential public infrastructure.
The proposed funding would also help restore agricultural production, stabilise areas vulnerable to landslides and flash floods, and protect residents' lives and property.
From the night of July 15 to July 19, Lai Chau Province recorded widespread rainfall of between 150mm and 300mm.
The prolonged downpours triggered a devastating flash flood in Muong Than Commune on the morning of July 17. According to the latest official figures, the disaster killed six people, left two missing and injured 10 others.
The floods also caused extensive property damage. A total of 28 houses were completely destroyed, 224 homes were damaged or inundated, and 526 households were evacuated. More than 408 hectares of rice fields and crops were devastated, while landslides severely damaged several national and provincial roads, disrupting transport links.
According to a rapid assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 3 pm on July 20, prolonged flooding in Lai Chau Province had caused severe human and economic losses, with total damage preliminarily estimated at VND 270 billion (USD 10.32 million).
