Deadly flash floods struck in the early hours in Vietnam’s northern province of Lai Chau yesterday, 12 August 2014. Heavy downpours over the last few days caused the flooding which some reports say brought a sea of mud through village streets.
At least 6 people have been killed in the floods. A family of five – 2 parents and their 3 children – were killed in their home when it was washed away by raging flood water. The worst affected area is the village of Thac Can and surrounding area of Tam Duong district. Several other people are still missing.
As much as 101 mm of rain fell in some areas of Lai Chau province in just 24 hours. Other areas of northern Vietnam have also seen heavy rainfall, in particular neighboring Lao Cai Province, where 78 mm of rain fell in the last 24 hours (between 12 and 13 August 2014).
Both Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces border south west China where torrential rainfall and floods have killed at least 9 people in the last few days.
