Downpour and floods since June 23 left one person dead and three others missing in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau as of 6am of June 25, said the Office of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Rescuers look for missing people in Lai Chau province

Seven houses in the province were also swept away by floods, along with 46 ha of rice and crops. As many as 500 head of cattle and poultry were killed. 

Total economic losses in Lai Chau were estimated to hit more than 21 billion VND (901,770 USD). 

Meanwhile, floods submerged 24 houses in the neighbouring Lao Cai province, and damaged one suspension bridge in Sa Pa district along with several roads and irrigation works.

The two provinces have sent workers to repair damaged roads.

The Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control instructed the northern provinces to organize forces to quickly overcome flood consequences, look for the missing and provide support to affected households.

The localities were also asked to monitor high-risk areas and dykes in order to timely evacuate residents in emergencies situations and keep a close watch on development of the weather.

The northern mountainous region is vulnerable to flash floods and landslides triggered by big rains.

Since the beginning of 2019 to mid-June, 23 persons died or went missing in natural disasters, and economic losses were estimated at over 337 billion VND (14.56 million USD).