Torrential downpours severely affect northern areas

HCMC – Torrential rains have killed four people and injured two others in the northern provinces of Ha Giang and Dien Bien in the last four days.

A heavy downpour left vast areas of crops devastated and hundreds of livestock and poultry dead in the northern provinces, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Control.

In Ha Giang, landslides buried 14 houses and 7.76 hectares of paddy in the districts of Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, and Vi Xuyen.

Many roads and bridges in Hoang Su Phi District were severely damaged, causing traffic congestion in some sites. 

Dozens of hectares of orchards were flooded, and hundreds of cattle and poultry killed. The damages are estimated at up to VND4 billion.

In related news, HCMC and other southern provinces are also expected to experience heavy rains until July 9, accompanied by thunderstorms, strong winds, and lightning.

The Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center has advised the locals to take flood precautions in low-lying and riverside areas and stay indoors during heavy rains and high winds.

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 3 saw a five-meter-long landslide the southern bank of the Dao canal at My Phu Commune in Chau Phu District. On the same day, the Muong Sung Canal in Hoi An Town in Cho Moi District witnessed cracks and landslides with a total length of about 45 meters.

Luong Huy Khanh, head of office of the Standing Committee for Climate Change Response – Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Civil Defense of An Giang Province, said that the two landslides were caused by the rain that weakened the soil structure on the two bank sites.

Local governments direct functional units to assist individuals in dealing with the aftermath of natural catastrophes. 

Localities are asked to closely follow weather forecasts and natural disaster warnings to proactively implement response measures.