Hanoi (VNA) – Heavy rains, thunderstorms, flash floods and landslides have caused extensive damage across several northern mountainous provinces in recent days, according to the Vietnam Disaster Management and Dyke Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Severe weather conditions from July 8 to 11 affected the provinces of Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen.
One person was injured in Son La after rocks from a landslide struck a car.
A total of 197 houses were destroyed or damaged, including seven that collapsed completely. Another 90 households were evacuated from areas at high risk of landslides, while 137 homes were affected by flooding and soil erosion.
The natural disasters also damaged more than 935 hectares of rice and other crops. Thai Nguyen suffered the largest agricultural losses, with over 488 hectares affected, followed by Son La, Tuyen Quang, Dien Bien, Lao Cai and Lai Chau.
Transport infrastructure was also hit, with landslides and flooding disrupting traffic at 30 locations on National Highways 6, 4H, 12, 32 and 279D, as well as 81 sites on provincial roads. Authorities have since reopened all affected routes.
In addition, 2,657 metres of irrigation canals and embankments were damaged, mainly in Son La. One bridge, two culverts and an embankment in the province also sustained damage. Three schools and one community cultural house were affected.
Floods and landslides killed or swept away 376 livestock and poultry, while 13.8 hectares of aquaculture ponds were damaged.
Son La was among the hardest-hit localities. Landslides toppled power poles on a 35kV transmission line, cutting electricity to 4,199 customers in Muong La, Chieng Lao and Muong Bu communes. Power has since been fully restored.
Initial estimates put property losses in Son La at about 31.1 billion VND (1.2 million USD), with damage assessments continuing in other affected areas.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned that many parts of the country are likely to experience continued showers and thunderstorms between July 13 and 21.
Northern Vietnam and north central province of Thanh Hoa are forecast to see scattered rain and thunderstorms, with locally heavy downpours, particularly during the evening and night in mountainous and midland areas. Rainfall is expected to ease between July 15 and 18 before increasing again from around July 18.
Scattered rain is also forecast for the region from Nghe An to Quang Tri, while the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam are expected to continue experiencing showers and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy rainfall.
Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecasting Division at the forecasting centre, warned that prolonged rainfall has left soil in many northern mountainous areas saturated, significantly increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
He urged local authorities and residents to remain on high alert as further widespread and locally heavy rain could trigger dangerous disasters in vulnerable areas./.
