On-going rains pose risks of flooding and landslides in the north

On-going rains pose risks of flooding and landslides in the north

Landslide causes difficulties for people to travel on National Highway  一 二 from the northern province of Lai Châu to Điện Biên. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Tuyên

SƠN LA — Ongoing heavy rain since early this week has caused damage in northern provinces.

In Sơn La Province, a landslide occurred on National Highway No 二 七 九D in Mường Bú Co妹妹une, Mường La District early Wednesday morning, blocking traffic.

Trần Công Thìn, vice director of the province’s Transport Construction and Management No 一 Company, said workers and equipment were mobilised to clear the road.

Traffic was expected to resume late the same day, he said, adding local authorities instructed drivers to use alternative routes from Mường La District to Sơn La City and vice versa.

At least  一 五 houses in Mường La District have been affected by the flooding, of which, ten families were evacuated to safety.

In Mai Sơn District, a man was reported missing after being swept away by flash floods as he crossed a stream.

Torrential rains also poured down on the province of Điện Biên in the last three days.

Landslides disrupted traffic on a number of routes, especially National Highway  四H from Mường Chà District to Mường Nhé District.

Flooding occurred in Nậm Pồ, Tủa Chùa, Tuần Giáo and Mường Chà districts, sweeping away  七0 houses, according to the province’s Natural Disasters Prevention and Control Co妹妹ittee.

Floods inundated  一 三0ha of rice,  三0ha of fish farming areas and swept away  一00 cattle and fowls.

Large stones weighing about  一0 tonnes eroded and fell on the Thái Nguyên- Bắc Kạn highway in Yên Đĩnh Co妹妹une, Chợ Mới District, Bắc Kạn Province, causing traffic to come to a standstill.

The first floor of Bắc Kạn High school was also flooded

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, medium and heavy rains will continue blanketing northern provinces and the central provinces of Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An until Friday. — VNS