At 1 pm today, a Dantri/Dtinews reporter reached the flash flood-hit area in residential cluster 11, Muong Than Commune, Lai Chau Province, on National Highway 32 near Chit Village.
The location of the flash flood that caused severe damage and left four people dead in Muong Than Village (Photo: Google Maps).
The scene on National Highway 32 remained devastated more than a day after the flash flood swept through.
Mud and large boulders carried by the floodwaters were strewn along the residential area on National Highway 32.
Solidly built two- and three-storey houses were damaged by the torrential flash flood on the morning of July 17, with dozens affected. Some homes were even punched through at ground-floor level by rushing earth and rock.
Power poles and trees lay snapped and scattered across the area.
At the scene, hundreds of officials and soldiers were helping residents clear mud and rock, recover belongings and repair damage.
Lo Van Bun, 40, from Chit village in Muong Than Commune, sat stunned beside the ruins of what had once been his home.
According to official figures, 14 homes in Muong Than Commune were completely destroyed and 15 others were partially damaged. Many residents' possessions were swept away or buried by the floodwaters.
So far, the flash flood has left five people dead and three missing.
Captain Lo Van Keo, an officer from the Mobile Police Division of Lai Chau Province Police, said that by the afternoon of July 18, about 300 officers, soldiers and militia members were involved in searching for the missing and repairing damage on National Highway 32.
Local electricity workers had also reached the site to deal with damaged power lines.
Relief vehicles from neighbouring communes had arrived promptly at the site to support affected local residents.
Essentials including clean water, ready-to-eat food, rice, instant noodles and toilet paper were being distributed to residents.
By 4 pm today, floodwaters were still flowing swiftly through the area as authorities continued searching for the missing and dealing with the aftermath of the flash flood.
