Heavy rains caused deadly flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnam over the weekend, claiming lives of at least 7 people and leaving 12 missing.
The worst-hit province was Lai Chau in Vietnam's mountainous region, where five people lost their lives and 12 were left missing, government officials said Monday, June 25, 2018.
Floods and landslides swept away hundreds of homes, the country's Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention said, adding that some sections of national and provincial roads were damaged, causing serious traffic jams.
Two people were killed in neighboring Ha Giang province when their house collapsed.
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds are expected to continue in the region for at least 2 more days. Risk of landslides and flash floods across mountainous provinces remains high, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting warns.
According to Vietnam's General Statistics Office, natural disasters during the first 5 months of this year killed 13 people and injured 21. Nearly 11 000 homes were destroyed or damaged as well as 6 100 ha (15 073 acres) of rice and other crops, leaving property losses of nearly 24 million US dollars. In addition, 8 200 cattle and 3 500 poultry were killed, the office said.