At around 8.30 am on October 6, rapidly rising floodwaters caused the rear wall of the hospital to collapse. Floodwaters then rushed into the hospital, submerging medical equipment and supplies.
As the floodwaters poured in, doctors and nurses quickly took bedridden patients to safety.
Van Ho General Hospital seriously ravaged by floodwaters (Photo by Thanh Van)
“The floodwaters rose so quickly that we couldn’t react in time. Many machines and medicines were submerged,” a Van Ho General Hospital staff member said, adding that recovery efforts are underway to resume patient care soon.
Initial inspections revealed numerous computers, ultrasound machines, and medicines that were damaged.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that from midnight to 9 am on October 6, moderate to heavy rain, and in some areas torrential rain, fell across Lai Chau, Son La, Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Thanh Hoa.
Rainfall reached 44mm in Khoen On (Lai Chau), 123.6mm in It Ong (Son La), 92.6mm in Hang Kia (Phu Tho), 75.6mm in Ngu Chi Son (Lao Cai), 45.6mm in Ha Lang (Cao Bang), 140.6mm in Mau Son (Lang Son), and 38.4mm in Ban Sen (Quang Ninh).
Over the next 3-6 hours, rain is expected to continue, with cumulative rainfall of 40-80mm, locally over 100mm, in Son La, Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa; 30-50mm, locally over 80mm, in Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Cao Bang; and 10-30mm, locally over 50mm, in Lao Cai and Lai Chau.