Landslides destroyed five houses and left seven people missing in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai's Mu Cang Chai district on August 22 afternoon.

All of the victims were ethnic Mong living in Thao Chu Chay village, said the local Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Two major bangs preceded the landslide, which blocked the flow of the Han Tau De Stream, said residents working on a farm nearby.

The stream has since been unblocked but efforts to search for the buried victims were unsuccessful.

The district leaders gave each victim's family 3 million VND (160 USD) for burial services. Inhabitants in these areas have been repeatedly warned of the dangers of landslides in the rainy season./.