Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain have killed five people, left three others missing and injured eight in Lai Chau Province, according to local authorities.
A village in Muong Than Commune, Lai Chau Province, lies devastated after flash floods (Photo: Hai Long).
The five confirmed fatalities include three children aged 8, 10 and 11, as well as two adults aged 31 and 32.
The three people still missing have been identified as Luong Thi Xuong, born in 1981; Do Thi Hoa, born in 1972; and Nguyen Thi Mai, born in 1958.
Authorities also reported that eight other people sustained injuries during the disaster.
More than 60 houses have either collapsed or been damaged as flash floods and landslides swept through affected communities.
The severe weather also triggered 48 landslides along major transport routes, disrupting traffic on National Highway 12, National Highway 32 and National Highway 279, as well as several provincial roads.
As of 4 pm on July 18, floodwaters were still flowing rapidly through the affected areas. Emergency responders continued searching for the missing while working to clear debris, restore transport links and help communities recover from the devastation caused by the floods.
