Floods, landslides triggered by heavy rains kill 2 in northern Vietnam

Under the influence of a low pressure trough passing through the north, the region has suffered frequent showers and thunderstorms in the past four days.

A five-year-old boy in Na Ri District of Bac Kan Province was swept away by flash flood on Thursday morning and later confirmed dead. The flash flood also injured two other people in the district, destroyed five houses, damaged 50 hectares of farms, and swept away two temporary dams.

In Lang Son Province, landslides caused by heavy rains killed a woman and injured four others on Monday night.

A flooded neighborhood in Binh Gia District of Lang Son Province on May 10, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Nguyen

Rains have fallen most heavily in localities in the midland and mountainous areas. Hanoi only received light rains.

From 7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday, rainfall was recorded at 73 mm in Lao Cai, 94 mm in Bac Kan, 130 mm in Cao Bang, and 80 mm in Quang Ninh.

The heavy rains caused floods of two to seven meters high in rivers of Thuong, Luc Nam and Trung in Lang Son and Bac Giang provinces.

In Lao Cai, home to tourist attraction Sa Pa, streets were submerged by 50 centimeters.

A street in Lao Cai Province is flooded on May 12, 2022. Photo by Lao Cai Online

Bac Giang Province, which borders Lang Son, reported more than 100 hectares of farmland being destroyed by floods while many streets have been damaged by landslides.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the northern region will continue receiving rain of 40-80 millimeters on Thursday evening. Some areas should be prepared for rainfall of 100-150 millimeters.

On the weekend, the low-pressure trough in combination with a cold spell will expand the rainy area to the central region. On the two days of May 15 and 16, both the north and central regions should expect rain.