Nine people are reported to have been killed after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in Ban Khoang commune, Sa Pa district, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, on September 4 night.

The disaster also left five others missing and 11 injured.

The floods washed away several houses in a secondary school in Ban Khoang commune right before the official start of the new school year on September 5.

Local authorities promptly mobilised rescue forces to the scene to help ease the consequences.-VNA