Vietnam Floods Kill One, Damage Key Highway as Rain Persists

Authorities in Lai Chau confirmed one death, five missing, and two injuries, all in Muong Than and Than Uyen. The floods destroyed or damaged 22 houses in the region. Thirteen homes were washed away in Muong Than alone. Five houses in Pa U Commune were damaged by landslides.

In Son La's Ngoc Chien Commune, a landslide buried three homes in Dong Xuong Village. No casualties were reported because residents had evacuated before the debris struck, the commune People's Committee said.

The weather service warned that the danger is not over. From Friday night through Sunday, mountainous and midland areas in northern Vietnam can expect another 60 to 120 mm of rain, with isolated spots receiving more than 250 mm. Rainfall intensity may exceed 100 mm within a single three-hour window, raising the risk of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides.

Rain is expected to continue through Sunday night into Monday, delivering 20 to 50 mm widely and more than 100 mm locally. After days of rainfall, soil moisture models indicate that Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, and Lao Cai provinces are near or at full saturation, the center said, making the ground unstable and prone to further slides.

The damage to National Highway 32, a crucial transport corridor connecting Hanoi with Phu Tho, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau, has cut off road access between Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces, creating transit disruptions that could affect the movement of agricultural goods and supplies in the region.