The devastation began on the morning of 17/7 following hours of intense rain, a result of a low-pressure trough. Floodwaters, originating from mountains exceeding 1,000 meters in height, cascaded onto National Highway 32 before inundating rice fields in Muong Than and Than Uyen communes, Lai Chau province. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that Phuc Than received 206 mm of rain from 9 am yesterday to 9 am today, with most precipitation occurring overnight and in the early morning.

National Highway 32, a vital artery connecting Ha Noi with Phu Tho, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau, suffered severe damage. In Muong Than commune, team 11, many two-story houses along the highway collapsed, and large sections of the road surface peeled away. The Lai Chau Provincial Police swiftly mobilized over 200 officers to conduct rescue operations and assist with resident evacuations. By noon on 17/7, 10 individuals had been rescued from the floodwaters.

Tragically, a four-person family in Muong Than commune was swept from their home. The husband, suffering a broken leg, became stranded on a small island in a stream over one km from their house, while his wife and two children are still missing. Muong Than Commune Police, in coordination with local forces, rescued Lo Van Chai (33) and Nguyen Thanh Hai (35) from Ban Chit, who were trapped in the Nuam Vai stream. They were brought to shore and transferred to the commune medical station for health monitoring. The flash flood also caused extensive damage to infrastructure in Muong Than commune, with many power poles and public structures collapsing.

The relentless floodwaters left many vehicles damaged and overturned on roads. In Than Uyen commune, authorities deployed dozens of personnel to assist residents in evacuating from areas prone to landslides. Similarly, in Muong Kim commune, rapidly rising floodwaters overwhelmed streams, bringing traffic to a standstill. The region had already faced disruptions; on 16/7, a landslide completely destroyed a section of National Highway 12 (km76+300) from Chan Nua to Lai Ha, severing traffic between Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. In Son La province, Ngoc Chien commune also experienced heavy rain on the morning of 17/7, resulting in mud and soil overflowing onto local roads. Three households in Ban Dong Xuong, Ngoc Chien commune, saw their homes completely destroyed by rocks and earth. Fortunately, these residents had evacuated earlier, preventing any casualties.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned of continued heavy rainfall. From 17/7 until the night of 18/7, mountainous and midland areas of Bac Bo are expected to receive 50-100 mm of rain, with isolated areas potentially exceeding 250 mm. There is a high risk of intense rainfall, with over 100 mm falling within three hours. The Bac Bo Delta is forecast to receive 10-30 mm of rain today and tonight, with some areas seeing over 70 mm. The ongoing multi-day rainfall significantly elevates the risk of landslides and flash floods across the region.

Gia Chinh - Ngoc Bich