At least 14 people are dead or missing after torrential rains triggered severe flooding and mudslides in Vietnam’s northern province of Dien Bien, state media reported on Friday.
According to Tien Phong newspaper, heavy rainfall on Thursday night caused floodwaters to rise rapidly, inundating homes in low-lying areas and unleashing flash floods and landslides across the mountainous terrain. The hardest-hit area is Xa Dung village, where one fatality has been confirmed and six people remain unaccounted for.
The provincial People’s Committee stated that flood damage has cut off electricity and transportation links to several parts of the province, complicating rescue and relief efforts. In Hang Pu Xi village, two children were reportedly buried under a mudslide, with search teams still struggling to locate their bodies.
Ongoing rain continues to hamper recovery operations, raising fears that the number of casualties may rise. Authorities have deployed emergency crews to affected areas but warn that difficult terrain and continued rainfall are impeding access.
Vietnam, particularly its northern regions, is prone to seasonal flooding and landslides during the monsoon months. This latest disaster underscores the growing vulnerability of rural and mountainous communities to extreme weather events.
Written By Rodney Mbua
