HANOI: Three people were killed in flooding and landslides in northern Vietnam, state media said Monday, after days of heavy rain that partially submerged thousands of homes and disrupted normal life in the affected regions.
Images broadcasted on state media showed torrents of water cascading down the steep roads of mountainous Ha Giang province, a picturesque destination often frequented by motorcycle enthusiasts. The floodwaters engulfed vehicles, leaving them overturned and abandoned, while residents of Ha Giang city sought refuge on rooftops, awaiting rescue.
Amid the chaos, approximately 400 foreign tourists were evacuated from the flood-stricken area. The incessant rainfall since Saturday inundated thousands of homes and inflicted substantial damage to several roads, according to state media reports.
The Lo River, swollen by the heavy downpour, unleashed floods and triggered landslides, the provincial authorities stated in a statement posted on their website. Access to these areas has been severed due to the perilous conditions, leaving residents stranded and cut off from essential services.
In addition to Ha Giang, northern port city Hai Phong and Quang Ninh province, home to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, also grappled with severe flooding over the weekend.
Vietnam, situated in a region prone to harsh weather during the rainy season from June to November, regularly faces the brunt of natural disasters. Last year alone, the nation endured a series of floods and landslides that killed 169 people.
