According to Hoang Trong Nghia, Chairman of Tu Le Commune, Lao Cai, this morning, October 2, traffic through Khau Pha Pass remains cut off and has yet to be restored.
At around 4 am on October 1, a significant landslide struck National Highway 32 in Khau Pha Pass, sweeping away approximately 30 metres of the road and affecting traffic from Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai and Than Uyen (Lai Chau).
The serious landslide on Khau Pha Pass (Photo by Ngoc Son)
Although the rain stopped on the afternoon of October 1, the road remains impassable, with authorities still working to clear landslides and restore travel for residents, Nghia added.
Repair crews are first working to divert water into a roadside ditch. Once the flow is cut off, they will shore up the landslide with rock cages to temporarily reopen the road for residents.
Floods and landslides have left one house completely collapsed, 10 houses inundated, and 21 others damaged by erosion.
Tu Le Commune authorities directed local police and militia forces to mobilise forces to inspect, assist, and guide residents in relocating people and property.
Traffic through Khau Pha Pass remains cut off on October 2. (Photo by Ngoc Son)
Flash floods and landslides have severely affected many communes and wards in Lao Cai Province, including Viet Hong, Tu Le, Van Ban, Duong Quy, and Ta Phin. Torrential rains also triggered multiple landslides along key highways and roads in Lao Cai.
As many as five people have been killed, five remain missing, and 10 were injured, while more than 9,700 houses were damaged due to the impact of Typhoon Buaoi, causing the province’s total loss of VND 2.75 trillion (USD 108 million).