Police in Muong Than Commune said persistent heavy rain from Wednesday morning to Friday evening triggered flash floods and landslides in several villages, including Chit, Che Bo, Nam Sang, Sap Ngua and Nga Phat.
By 7 pm on Friday, seven villages Khoang, Ve, Hat Nam, Muong Mit, Chit, Nam Sang and Sap Ngua remained isolated, affecting more than 880 households with nearly 4,700 residents.
Initial assessments showed 13 houses were destroyed, while many others sustained damage. Thirteen households in Sap Ngua Village and Doi 9 Hamlet remained in areas at risk of landslides.
At least 80 households, comprising 385 people, were evacuated from villages vulnerable to flooding and landslides, including Noong Thang, Nam Ngua, Na Phai, Na Xa, Nam Sang, Sam Sau, Nam Vai and Chit.
Floodwaters and landslides blocked sections of National Highways 32 and 279, cutting off access to several villages and leaving some roads impassable.
The flooding toppled around 20 electricity poles, causing widespread power outages, and inundated about 200 hectares of farmland, damaging crops.
Local authorities mobilised police, soldiers, militia members, teachers and residents to carry out search and rescue operations and respond to the disaster.
Lai Chau provincial police deployed 90 officers and rescue equipment to the affected area, while neighbouring communes sent another 50 officers and seven specialised vehicles to assist.
Authorities deployed heavy equipment to clear debris and reopened blocked roads, while police and military personnel reinforced search and rescue efforts.