Monday 25th June, 2018
Lai Chau, which is Vietnam’s most sparsely
populated province, as well as its poorest, reported 11 deaths and 11 missing,
whi
Accra, June 25 – (dpa/GNA) – Vietnamese rescue
forces discovered seven additional bodies Monday, bringing the death toll from
flash floods and a landslide in northern Vietnam to 14, with 11 people still
missing and seven others being treated for injuries, authorities said.
Lai Chau, which is Vietnam’s most sparsely
populated province, as well as its poorest, reported 11 deaths and 11 missing,
while Ha Giang province reported three deaths, the Central Steering Committee
on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control updated in a report as of 1200 GMT
Monday.
Heavy rains during the weekend resulted in
deadly flash floods in four northern provinces, the Committee said.
Authorities have mobilized more than 40,000
soldiers and militiamen for search and rescue and to help provide shelter for
survivors.
Regional rainfall of up to 463 millimetres was
recorded at the weekend, according to the committee.
Nearly 70 houses in Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Lao
Cai and Thai Nguyen provinces were swept away in heavy rains, which began late
Saturday, while 379 houses were damaged and 769 houses were submerged.
Floods also swept away a bridge in Lai Chau
province, while landslides disrupted traffic on some inter-provincial roads.
Initial estimates put losses at 4.8 million
dollars.
The committee warned people on Monday not to
venture near rivers, as heavy rains were expected to continue in the region for
the next several days.
GNA