(VNF)- Prolonged downpours, with the largest precipitation recorded in the northern province of Quang Ninh over the past 40 years, have resulted in serious flooding which has killed seventeen people and left six others missing over the past three days, local authorities said.

The downpours, the heaviest in the past 40 years in the province, which is home to the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay, were measured at 828mm in several places.

The torrential rains started in the northeastern part of the province on Sunday and caused over one trillion VND (45.8 million USD) in damage as of 9:00 pm on Tuesday, local officials said, citing statistics.

Heavy rain causes flood in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province (Source: VNA)

Among the perished, eight came from a family of nine in Cao Thang Ward, Ha Long City, whose house was ravaged by swift floodwaters on Tuesday morning.

The only survivor is Cao Tien Vy, 37, who is receiving treatment at the Quang Ninh Province General Hospital.

Three other victims – a 27-year-old mother and her two children, aged seven and four, – drowned in floodwaters that inundated their house in Cam Pha on Monday.

Two men, both 30, were found dead when a house they were staying in collapsed in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long yesterday.

The four remaining dead victims include a man aged 71 in Cao Thang Ward, Ha Long; a 55-year-old woman in the same ward; and two other women in Hong Ha and Hong Hai Wards of the same city.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, over 2,800 houses gave way in the deluge and 143 hectare of crops and about 880 fishing pens were inundated. Many local roads were blocked due to landslides.

The Quang Ninh Water Supply Co. has no choice but to stop supplying tap water to homes in Ha Long and Cam Pha cities for up to a fortnight as falling trees and landslides had broken the main water-pipe system.

The rain also left about 1,600 tourists stranded on Co To and Quan Lan islands. Most of them were on Co To, one of the province’s popular tourist attractions.

Approximately 1,000 households in Cam Pha city were evacuated to safe places on Tuesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Tuesday demanded that the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security mobilise all available manpower and resources in the province to help local residents get over adversities caused by the historic downpours.

Other ministries and Government agencies are also ordered to step up their efforts to restore the province’s transport, power and communication infrastructure.

They were also charged with cleaning up the environment to prevent disease outbreaks and helping local residents resume normal life.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai ordered the provincial People’s Committee to evacuate people residing in areas of high alert ahead of potential flash floods and landslides.

The National Central for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned more torrential rains are expected in the next two days.

Heavy rains are also expected to rage in other provinces and cities in the northern region up until August 2./.

by VNF