The northern mountainous province of Bac Kan was the hardest hit locality, with two deaths each in Dong Phuc and Yen Duong communes, said the Bac Kan Province Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Flash floods described by many locals as unprecedented in the area’s history also severely damaged multiple houses and public works.

Local authorities have sent rescue teams to address the aftermath of the flash floods.

In Tuyen Quang, a prolonged spell of heavy rain at midnight on May 17 caused widespread flooding Na Hang town. The floodwaters swept through roads and homes, bringing mud and debris and damaging numerous properties. Traffic in the area was severely disrupted for several hours.

Meanwhile, in Lao Cai province’s Sa Pa town, a landslide triggered by heavy downpours caused a house to collapse, resulting in one fatality. The downpours also caused landslides along key roads in the area, including severe damage to the route leading to Cat Cat village in O Quy Ho ward.

Elsewhere, the mountainous province of Ha Giang also reported significant destruction. Torrential rain led to landslides on the road to Vinh Chung village, damaging three homes and collapsing a 60-meter school wall. Nearly 10 hectares of crops were submerged by floodwaters.

Authorities are still assessing the total economic loss caused by the disaster.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), heavy rain is expected to persist in the northern region that poses a high risk of flash floods and landslides.

Local authorities are advised to implement precautionary measures and evacuate people in vulnerable areas to minimise casualties and damage.

Flash floods and landslides warning for northern and northcentral Vietnam

VOV.VN - Spells of torrential rain currently battering northern and northcentral Vietnamese provinces are forecast to continue to linger over the next few days, posing a high risk of flash floods and landslides in these localities, warned meteorologists.