Soldiers assist residents in relocating belongings in Lai Chau Province. — VNA/VNS via Vietnam News/ANN
HANOI: Heavy rain over the past two days has left one person dead, another missing, and caused widespread damage across the northern provinces of Lai Chau, Ha Giang, and Lao Cai.
According to the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control, from Saturday to 5pm on Sunday (June 8), torrential downpours battered the region, with flash floods sweeping away one man in Lao Cai Province.
In Ha Giang Province, one person was killed during the storm in a remote area of Meo Vac District.
Initial reports show 138 houses flooded in Lai Chau, over 110ha of crops damaged in Lai Chau and Lao Cai, and over 56ha of fish ponds affected. Around 700 livestock and poultry died.
Landslides displaced some 17,400 cubic metres of soil and rock onto roads in Lai Chau Province.
With more heavy rain and severe weather expected, the department has urged provinces and cities in the northern region, along with Thanh Haa, the south central, central Highlands, and southern localities, to brace for localised downpours, thunderstorms, hail, lightning, and strong winds.
Meanwhile, central provinces are being advised to prepare for ongoing heatwaves, and coastal areas are on alert for storms, waterspouts, and strong winds at sea.
Local authorities have been asked to maintain strict 24/7 monitoring and provide regular updates to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Ministry. - VNS via Vietnam News/ANN
