(VNF) - The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and its Yen Bai chapter held a requiem on August 15^th for heroes and martyrs and for the victims of the recent historic flood which claimed the lives of at least 30 people in Yen Bai province and other northern mountainous localities.

At the requiem for martyrs, flood victims held organised in Tung Lam Ngoc Am pagoda, Yen Bai province. (Source: baoyenbai.com.vn)

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Duong Van Tien said that the requiem, organised in Tung Lam Ngoc Am pagoda, was a meaningful activity to pay respect to heroes and martyrs who rendered service to the nation.

Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said the Council called on monks, nuns and followers nationwide to lend a helping hand to flash flood-hit people in the north immediately after learning about the disasters.

At the event, a charitable fund of the VinGroup presented VND 1.3 billion (USD 57,200) to Yen Bai province to help build schools for students in flood-hit areas.

The VinGroup presented VND 1.3 billion (USD 57,200) to Yen Bai province to help for students in flood-hit areas. (Source: baoyenbai.com.vn)

According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, since the beginning of August, heavy rains and flash floods have claimed at least 34 lives and left 11 others missing and more than 20 injured.

About 230 houses had been swept away or collapsed while 245 others had been damaged and 340 hectares of rice had been submerged by floodwater. Nearly 400 households had to leave their homes to safer places./.

VNF