Lao Cai: Thunderstorm, lightning leave two deaths

Lao Cai (VNA) - Two people were killed and three others injured as they were hit by thunderstorm and lightning in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on August 2, according to the provincial Steering Committee for natural disasters prevention, search and rescue.

The thunderstorm taking place in Bao Thang district at 2:30 pm blew away the roofs of 13 local houses and rooted up a 50-metre height ancient tree which led to the collapse of one house, hurting 64 year-old woman and killing one year-old child inside.

The same day, heavy rain and lightning struck Lung Khau Nhin commune, Muong Khuong district, taking the live of one person and injuring two others who hid in a small hillside cave during their maize harvest activity.

There will be two to four storms and low depressions in the East Sea in August this year, one or two of them will affect the mainland of Vietnam, especially the northern and northern central regions, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorology Forecasting.

In August, northern midland and lowland localities as well as the central region are predicted to suffer one or two very hot spells, while northern mountainous provinces expect heavy rains that may cause flash floods and landslides, the centre said.-VNA