Heavy rain causes localised flooding, affecting 76 houses in Lào Cai

Local residents work to overcome the consequences of heavy rains in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai on Friday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Ninh

LÀO CAI — The northern mountainous province of Lào Cai experienced widespread rainfall, with some areas facing moderate to heavy downpours between Thursday evening and Friday morning, damaging 76 houses in Lào Cai City and Bắc Hà District.

Landslides triggered by the heavy rain also resulted in a wall collapse at a house in Pom Hán Ward, Lào Cai City.

The intense rainfall destroyed nearly two hectares of maize and flooded five hectares of fruit trees in Bảo Thắng District.

It also caused damage to an irrigation system and disrupted 50 concrete irrigation channels.

One landslide created a 50-metre deep ditch at the boundary wall between the communal health station and Vĩnh Hà hydroelectric reservoir in Bảo Yên District.

The heavy rain also led to the collapse of two roads in Bảo Thắng District.

The road from Khẩu Cồ area in Bản Cầm Commune to Bản Sen Commune was rendered impassable for vehicles due to a a landslide with a volume of 50 cubic metres of soil.

Meanwhile, the Vạn Hòa - Kim Sơn Route was affected by two landslides at Thái Niên Commune and Phú Long Hamlet, Phố Lu Town, causing traffic disruptions in Phố Lu Town.

Localised heavy rainfall also caused widespread flooding on several roads.

According to the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, rainfall measurements from various stations were as follows: Việt Tiến 90.2mm; Cam Cọn 68.8mm; Long Khánh 52mm; Thượng Hà 56.4mm; Xuân Hòa 47.6mm; Bản Cầm 121.6mm; Phong Hải 54.2mm; Nậm Lúc 60.2mm; Bản Cái 54.2mm; Thượng Hà 53mm and Võ Lao 56.6mm.

The data was recorded from 8pm on Thursday to 8am on Friday.

Other areas experienced scattered light rain, with moderate rainfall averaging between 20-30mm.

After the rain ceased, local authorities mobilised forces to address the aftermath, setting up warning signs and redirecting traffic at landslide-affected areas.

Notably, the Provincial Firefighting and Rescue Police Office deployed over 50 officers to assist residents in moving to safety and safeguarding property from flooding.

They also rescued an elderly person more than 80 years old from a flooded home and transported a pregnant woman in labour to the hospital using a fire and rescue vehicle.

On Friday morning, Hoa Lan Nursery School was heavily flooded, so office staff came to the school to help students move to safety and hand over the children to their parents alongside the teachers. — VNS