A flash-flood triggered by torrential rains over the last two days claimed three lives and caused substantial property damage in northern coastal Quang Ninh province, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

Local authorities said by 11pm on July 26, the deluge killed a 27-year-old woman and her two children residing in Mong Duong ward of Cam Pha city.

The 260-millimetre rainfall in Cam Pha inundated many areas such as National Road 18A and Cam Phu, Cam Son and Mong Duong wards, where water reached as high as the second floor of some houses.

On July 26, 260 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in Quang Ninh’s Cua Ong ward, 200 millimetres in Ha Long city and Van Don district and about 100 millimetres in Dong Trieu town.

As more than 200 houses in Viet Hung ward of Ha Long city were flooded. The city is planning evacuations and temporary power cuts to ensure safety.

Driving rains, which are forecast to continue for the next several days, ignited landslides and led to housing collapses in some residential areas such as Hong Gai, Bach Dang, Tran Hung Dao, Ha Lam and Ha Trung wards of Ha Long city.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a low pressure trough crossing the north of Vietnam has caused torrential rains with an average rainfall of between 30-60 millimetres since July 25.

The centre predicted prolonged heavy rains in the region and warned northeast provinces like Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan and Bac Giang of flash floods and landslides.-VNA