October 9, 2023
HANOI – Prolonged heavy rainfall over the weekend has resulted in three deaths as well as damaged properties across some northern mountainous localities.
Downpour persisted in the northern province of Yên Bái from the night of October 6 through October 7, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
According to data provided by the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Yên Bái province, as of 11am on Saturday, three people – Nguyễn Quyết Tiến (64 years old), and Phạm Bích Liên (61 years old), and Hoàng Thuỳ T. (12 years old), all residing in Văn Yên District – died due to the heavy rain.
A total of 379 houses suffered severe damage and approximately 90.7 hectares of agricultural land were adversely affected.
The estimated overall cost of damage exceeded VNĐ5 billion.
Continuous heavy rain led to extensive flooding, erosion and prolonged traffic congestion on a number of national highways and provincial roads in the province.
In Yên Bái City, several streets were submerged, rendering them impassable for vehicles and hundreds of residences were inundated as a result of the rapidly rising water levels, causing significant damage to personal property and vehicles.
The Hà Nội-Lào Cai railway, particularly the section passing through Yên Thái Commune, was affected by a landslide, causing the temporary suspension of all train operations.
Nguyễn Văn Cường, director of Yên Lào Railway Joint Stock Company, said that the landslide affected a section spanning approximately 30 metres underneath the railway bed. The company has prepared the requisite materials and equipment but accessing the landslide area has proven challenging.
The company is currently mobilising its resources to rectify the situation promptly and restore railway traffic, he said.
Also on Saturday evening, the Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue in Lào Cai Province issued a statement confirming the discovery of another victim’s body, who lost their life due to heavy rain and flooding that occurred in Lào Cai Province during the night of September 12.
The search and rescue team operating in Sa Pa Town located the victim’s remains within the vicinity of the Nam Sài hydropower reservoir area, situated in Liên Minh Commune.
Local authorities, in conjunction with the victim’s family, were able to confirm the identity of the deceased as Tẩn Vần Phấu, born in 1979, from Nậm Cang Village in Liên Minh Commune. The family has since taken custody of the victim’s body for proper burial. — VNS