The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested that the mountainous provinces in the North and southern part of Central Vietnam strictly deal with all flash floods and landslides, while closely following the development of rains and floods in preparation for relocating local people to safe places.

Electric workers in Tua Chua district, Dien Bien province, fix electrical issues to ensure a safe electricity supply for locals. (Photo: NDO/Van Thanh Chuong)

The move aims to cope with the prolonged, torrential heavy rains in the regions in recent days, which have caused flash floods and serious landslides.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, from August 29 to 31, the North and Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces continue to suffer from heavy rains, with an average rainfall from 150-250 mm, even as much as 250-350 mm in Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Son La provinces.

The weather service also warned of a new flood on local rivers, while the mountainous areas of the North and North Central regions are at high risk of landslides and flash floods, in addition to flooding risks in low lying areas, especially in the Northeast and the North Delta.

Continuous heavy rains caused floods in many areas in Son La province, triggering landslides on Highway 6, Highway 37, Highway 4G and other provincial routes. Floods forced 33 households to move to safe shelter, while the property of hundreds of other households has been affected.

A villager in Na Bo, Mai Son district fell into the stream of Cap Na and has not been found yet. Floods have inundated over 55ha of rice and 3,100m² of fish ponds. Some kindergartens and primary schools in Muong La and Quynh Nhai districts have been flooded, affecting the preparation for the new school year.

By the end of August 29, the evacuation work for houses in Chieng Bang, Muong Sai and Muong Gion was still in progress.

National Highway 4H crossing Cha Nua commune, Nam Po district, Dien Bien province, suffered from a heavy landslide. The clearance is expected to be finished by August 30. (Photo: NDO/Phuong Anh)

In Cha Nua commune, Nam Po district, Dien Bien province, flash floods swept away many houses and brought mud to schools and the headquarters of the commune People's Committee. Local forces have carried out emergency evacuations for 580 students and 355 local people to safe places.

On Wednesday afternoon, four homes in Na Cang and Na Su hamlets were evacuated to avoid the risk of sliding. The Education and Training Department of Nam Po district has allowed local teachers to halt their classes until the end of this week.

In Hoa Binh province, heavy rains lasted for two days from August 28 to 29, causing landslides that affected five households in Co Luong village, Van Mai commune, Mai Chau district, in which a house’s wall collapsed, claiming the life of a child. The relief work is being urgently implemented.

Teachers at Na Ot Primary and Secondary School, Mai Son district, Son La province, clear mud from the classrooms after the facility suffered from a flash flood. (Photo: NDO/Duc Tuan)

National Highway No. 12 crossing Xa De Phin commune, Sin Ho district, Lai Chau province suffered from a landslide with a volume of over 5,000m³ of soil and stone. Up to now, the road has been basically cleared, however, it needs 3-5 days to be fully resolved.

In Thanh Hoa province, heavy rains caused landslides and damaged many houses in Trung Thanh and Trung Son communes, Quan Hoa district.

On the morning of August 29, the district sent a delegation to inspect the local situation, urging for the relocation of households in flood and landslide risk areas. The local authorities were asked to visit and provide initial support worth VND 1.5 million (USD 64.5) per house to the affected families, while mobilising forces to help them repair their damaged houses./.

VNF/NDO