Flash floods leave dozens missing in the Northwest
Floods appeared after prolonged rains left five people dead and dozens missing in Son La and Yen Bai.
Flash flood in Muong La district (Son La). Source: Son La Newspaper
The heavy rain that lasted last night until early this morning caused flooding in It Ong town, Nam Pam commune (Muong La,Son La) flash floods appear.
TIn It Ong town, flash floods swept away 10 houses in Hua Na village and caused landslides in 8 houses along Nam Pam stream. Nam Pam bridge was washed away, isolating Chieng Te village.HThe district has arranged housing for 32 households in Na Lo and Hua Na villages whose houses were swept away by flood.
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Nam Pam Bridge on National Highway 279D collapsed both piers, cutting off traffic connecting Muong La District Center with communes along the river. Photo: Son La Newspaper. |
According to a quick report from the Son La Disaster Prevention and Control Committee, by 11:30 a.m. at least three people had died, eight were missing, and two were injured; 46 houses were swept away and completely collapsed; and 12 houses were at risk of landslides.
Local authorities have evacuated residents of the swept-away house to safety. The province alsomobilized 100 officers and soldiers to search for missing people and support disaster recovery.
InYen BaiLast night and early this morning in Mu Cang Chai, there was rain, around 6am flash floods appeared, killing at least two people, nine people missing, six people injured. 26 houses were swept away, 14 houses completely collapsed.
"We have never witnessed such a big flash flood," said Do Thi Minh Hue, a resident of Mu Cang Chai, adding that the rain last night was not too heavy, possibly because the soil and rocks were still "full of water" from the rain that lasted for a month before.
Flash floods in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai). Video: Tung Nguyen
Provincial Party Secretary Pham Thi Thanh Tra and the working delegation are on their way to the scene to directly direct and inspect the remedial work.
According to the report of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention on August 2, heavy rain also killed one person due to lightning inBac Kan; two people in Muong Te district (Lai Chau) missing due to landslide on the way to work in the fields.Many houses were blown away and dozens of poultry were swept away.InDien Bien, landslidelivenearly 30,000 m3 of national highway and more than 16,000 m3 of provincial road.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that the rain in the Northwest will last until August 6, due to the influence of a low pressure trough combined with a developing low vortex. The total rainfall for the period from August 2-8 is about 250-350 mm.Places at high risk of flash floods and landslides include: Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Yen Bai.
What is flash flood? Flash floods often occur in small, mountainous basins, where the terrain is closed by surrounding mountain ranges and only connected to the outside by caves, ravines or small, narrow streams with steep banks (tube-shaped). When there is heavy rain, water quickly gathers in the valley, rises, causing flooding and large floods at the mouths of caves, ravines, and small, narrow streams, then moves quickly downstream. Flash floods can also occur in limestone mountain areas, where there are often caves and underground reservoirs connected to the outside by small, narrow caves and ravines. When there is heavy rain, water quickly gathers in underground lakes and caves, causing the water level to rise, creating great pressure causing flash floods at the outlets. Flash floods inundate valleys, causing massive destruction in areas below the exit, sweeping away everything in their path. |
According to VnExpress.net
